Longitudinal Study Finds Repetitive Concussions Linked to Declined Mental and Cognitive Health in Former NCAA Athletes Five Years Post-Graduation

New research in Neurology® finds that former college athletes with 3+ concussions face higher risks of anxiety and sleep issues five years after graduation.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 13, 2026, 5:23 AM EDT

Source: Information for this report was sourced from American Academy of Neurology

Monitoring the Post-Collegiate Transition Window

The immediate aftermath of a concussion and the late-life effects of chronic traumatic encephalopathy are well-documented, yet the intermediate years following a collegiate athletic career have remained under-researched. A new study from the University of Michigan Concussion Center, published in the medical journal of the American Academy of Neurology, focuses specifically on the five-year window after graduation. Dr. Steven Broglio, the study's lead author, explains that this period is a critical time for intervention, as early detectable changes in brain health can inform treatments designed to lessen long-term neurological decline. By assessing athletes shortly after they exit the high-pressure environment of NCAA sports, researchers hope to identify the earliest markers of concussion-related impairment.

Quantifying the Impact of Multiple Head Injuries

The research followed 3,910 former athletes from 20 different sports, including high-contact disciplines like football and soccer as well as non-contact sports like swimming and golf. Participants were divided into three groups based on their injury history: those with zero concussions, those with one or two, and those with three or more. The data indicated a clear correlation between injury frequency and symptom severity. For instance, athletes with a history of three or more concussions reported an average of five persistent symptoms, such as headaches or dizziness, compared to an average of three symptoms reported by the control group with no history of head injury.

Psychological and Behavioral Health Outcomes

Beyond physical symptoms, the study utilized 11 different assessments to measure mental and behavioral well-being. Athletes with a history of three or more concussions scored significantly worse on tests measuring anxiety, depression, and psychological distress. Sleep quality was also notably impacted in this group. Perhaps most concerningly, even those who reported only one or two concussions showed slightly worse scores in quality of life and psychological health compared to their uninjured peers. This suggests that even a limited number of concussions can have a measurable, albeit small, effect on a young adult's mental health landscape as they enter their late 20s.