At least 1 in 4 ex-NFL players who died from 2016 to 2021 had CTE, study finds

Key Points:

• A study published in The British Medical Journal found that at least 24.5% of former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease linked to repeated head trauma, significantly higher than the less than 1% prevalence in the general population.
• Among former NFL players with CTE who donated their brains, 61.3% met clinical criteria for dementia, with severe CTE more frequently associated with dementia.
• The study analyzed brain donations from 235 of 878 former NFL players who died during the period, with 91.4% of donated brains diagnosed with CTE; researchers estimate the true prevalence lies between 24.5% and 97.7%.
• Researchers emphasized the urgent need for more resources to develop a cure and called for future studies to focus on athletes who played more recently and on preventing repetitive head impacts beyond just concussions.
• The NFL responded by highlighting ongoing efforts to make the game safer, reduce concussions and head impacts, and provide former players with resources for physical and mental health support.