Study Reveals High CTE Rates Among NFL Players
A recent study has found that at least one in four NFL players who passed away between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, commonly referred to as “CTE.”
This research, which involved collaborations from Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation, appeared in the British Medical Journal. It underscores the alarming reality that professional football players are at a notably greater risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases compared to the general population.
Focusing on 878 former NFL players who died during the study’s timeframe, researchers examined 235 donated brains and identified CTE in 215. Even when considering conservative estimates, at least 24.5% of these players had CTE.
All participants in the study had played in at least one NFL game.
Dr. Daniel Daneshvar, who leads Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Mass General Brigham, noted that this percentage might be on the lower side, suggesting the actual figure could be closer to 50%.
“Finding that somewhere between 24.5% and 97.7% of NFL players from that period had this progressive brain disease is a wake-up call for both the NFL and scientific communities,” Daneshvar commented.
The research also delved into the connection between the severity of CTE and cognitive decline, revealing that nearly 61.3% of the studied brains showed signs of dementia, and an overwhelming 90.4% of those with stage IV CTE were diagnosed with dementia.
Dr. Leah Croll, a neurologist at Maimonides Medical Center, expressed deep concern over the findings.
“The actual number could be significantly higher, and even this minimum estimate shows that CTE isn’t rare among former NFL players,” she remarked. “It’s a sobering realization — neurodegenerative disease is a common hazard linked to their profession.”
Currently, CTE can only be diagnosed after death through an autopsy, as no definitive method exists for living individuals.
The NFL, in a statement to ESPN, reaffirmed its commitment to enhancing player safety by implementing measures aimed at reducing concussions and head injuries.
“The NFL is dedicated to providing the community access to a growing range of resources to improve their physical and mental wellness,” the league stated.
