Study finds roughly 75% of deceased NFL players had at least some degree of CTE brain disease

A new study published in JAMA Network Open estimates that 75% of former NFL players who died between 2008 and 2023 had signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head impacts. The research, conducted by the Boston University Alzheimer’s Disease and CTE Center, analyzed data from over 2,362 deceased former players, with 93.5% showing evidence of CTE among nearly 400 who donated their brains for examination. This rate is significantly higher than what has been observed in the general population, raising concerns about player safety and long-term health risks associated with football. Researchers noted that while not all individuals with CTE experience cognitive decline or dementia, those showing symptoms were five times more likely to donate their brains for further study. The NFL responded by stating they continuously work to make the game safer, including strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts.