Study: At least 25% of NFL players in sample had CTE

Key Points:

• A new study published in the British Medical Journal found that at least 25% of NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma.
• The study analyzed brain samples donated between 2008 and 2021, noting that while 25% is a conservative estimate, the true prevalence of CTE among NFL players likely falls somewhere between 25% and 97%.
• The NFL Players Association emphasized the need for improved player safety, research, and support for those affected by long-term impacts of football, while the NFL highlighted ongoing efforts to reduce concussions and enhance player well-being.
• The study also found a strong association between advanced-stage CTE (Stage IV) and dementia, with over 90% of these cases also diagnosed with dementia, underscoring the severe cognitive risks linked to repeated head injuries.
• Researchers suggest that reducing cumulative head impacts, such as eliminating hits during practice and discouraging tackle football for children, could help mitigate CTE risk, with further studies on overall CTE prevalence in NFL players forthcoming.