A recent study published in JAMA Network Open provides a sobering look at the prevalence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) among former National Football League players. Researchers examined 2,362 former players who died between January 2008 and December 2023, using both brain‑donor data and National Death Index records to estimate how many likely had the neurodegenerative disease.
Key findings
Of the 2,362 deceased players, 396 families donated brains for research. Among those donors, 362 (93.5%) were diagnosed with CTE. After adjusting for the higher likelihood that families of symptomatic players donate brains, the researchers estimated that roughly three in four former players who died in the 15‑year period had CTE.
Almost 70% of the men studied were 70 years of age or older at the time of death. The study also noted that former players showing cognitive symptoms of dementia were five times more likely to have their brains donated, underscoring a selection bias that the authors attempted to correct in their calculations.
Context and limitations
Previous research had found CTE in as many as 99% of brain donors, but those studies were criticized for focusing only on families who noticed symptoms and chose to donate. The new analysis broadens the scope by incorporating death‑certificate data, offering a more realistic national estimate.
Lead researcher Dr. Yorghos Tripodis of Boston University’s CTE Center cautioned that no study can eliminate all selection bias. He emphasized that a diagnosis of CTE in the brain does not guarantee that every player experienced symptoms, and not all individuals with CTE develop severe dementia.
NFL response
In a statement responding to the earlier August study, the NFL reiterated its commitment to player safety. “The NFL continuously strives to make the game of football safer, including by implementing strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts,” the league said. It also highlighted resources available to former players for physical and mental health support.
Experts not involved in the research, such as Harvard senior research scientist Dr. Rachel Grashow, pointed out the difficulty of interpreting brain‑donation data. She noted that without accounting for why families choose to donate, the numbers could be misleading.
Implications for youth football
University of Wisconsin‑Madison clinical assistant professor Dr. Julie Stamm, who was not part of the study, suggested that the findings could influence safety practices at younger levels of the sport. “If the NFL says that, the youth levels will listen, and that will go a long way in decreasing the overall number of impacts over a lifetime,” she said, advocating for reduced tackling in practices.
Researchers continue to seek diagnostic tools for living patients and hope that clearer prevalence data will spur investment in treatments. Tripodis expressed optimism about ongoing progress: “We’re seeing significant advances in identifying diagnostic criteria for living patients and designing clinical trials that could eventually lead to a cure.”
What families can do
The NFL encourages former players to use its health‑resource programs to monitor symptoms and seek care early. While the study underscores a serious health concern, it also reinforces the importance of early detection, supportive care, and continued research to protect current and future athletes.
Original reporting: 40/29 / KHBS (NW Arkansas) — read the source article.
