A study released on Tuesday indicates that at least one in four former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). This degenerative disease can only be definitively diagnosed after death.
Researchers examined 235 donated brains from 878 former players who died during this period. Of these, 215 were found to have CTE. The condition is associated with repeated blows to the head, including concussions, and its symptoms can include difficulty with attention and memory, dementia, mood disorders, and headaches.
Daniel Daneshvar, the study's lead author, noted that repeated traumatic brain injuries are a known factor in elevated rates of neurodegenerative disease. He added that NFL players have about a four times higher rate of death from neurodegenerative disease compared to the general population.
The study, from Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion + CTE Foundation, also found dementia to be common among brain donors. Researchers are urging prevention measures that focus on reducing repetitive head impacts across all levels of the sport, as many impacts occurred at collegiate, high school, and youth levels.
An NFL spokesperson stated that the league continuously strives to make the game safer by implementing strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts. They also encouraged former players to use available resources for their physical and mental well-being.