New study estimates about 3 in 4 former NFL players had CTE

Key Points:

• A new study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that nearly 75% of deceased former NFL players had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of their death, with about 27% having experienced dementia during their lifetime.
• The research analyzed 2,362 deceased former NFL players, including 396 brain donors, and adjusted for donation bias to estimate a more precise CTE prevalence, concluding that at least 60% had the disease even under conservative assumptions.
• CTE, linked to repeated head impacts, can only be diagnosed postmortem, and researchers noted that families of symptomatic players are more likely to donate brains, which may inflate prevalence estimates without adjustments.
• The NFL Players Association and the NFL acknowledged the study's findings, emphasizing their commitment to player safety, scientific research, and resources to support players' physical and mental health during and after their careers.
• The findings specifically apply to deceased former players and may not represent living NFL players; the NFL has ongoing initiatives, including a $100 million pledge since 2016, aimed at reducing head injuries and improving player safety.