NFL players face high risk of CTE, new study finds

A major study published in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) indicates that at least one-quarter of former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The research, conducted by experts from institutions including Harvard Medical School, Boston University, and Mass General Brigham, analyzed the brains of 235 players who had donated them for examination. Of those examined, 215—approximately 91.5%—were diagnosed with CTE.

Because CTE can only be confirmed through post-mortem brain dissection, researchers calculated a minimum prevalence of 24.5% for the studied period, assuming all non-donated brains were healthy. However, the study suggests the actual rate could be significantly higher, with estimates potentially reaching as high as 97.7%. The findings highlight a strong link between repeated head impacts and the degenerative disease, which is associated with cognitive impairment, emotional instability, and dementia.

The results have prompted calls for increased research and better medical support for athletes. While the NFL has stated it is working to make the game safer through various concussion-reduction strategies, the study has also drawn attention from international neuroscientists and sparked debate regarding lifetime medical insurance and care for retired players.