Study finds high CTE prevalence among deceased NFL players
A study published in The BMJ examined brains from 338 deceased NFL players and found CTE in 315 of them. Among players who died in the last six years, 210 of 235 brain donors had the disease. CTE can only be diagnosed after death and is linked to repeated head impacts.
The study, published in The BMJ, analyzed brain tissue from 338 deceased NFL players, finding signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in 315 cases. Among those who died within the last six years, 210 of 235 brain donors showed the disease. CTE is a degenerative brain condition that can only be confirmed post-mortem, and it is associated with repeated head impacts common in contact sports.
This research underscores the long-term neurological risks faced by professional football players. Because CTE cannot be diagnosed during life, the true prevalence among all players remains unknown, and the findings rely on self-selected brain donations, which may skew toward symptomatic individuals. The study adds to a growing body of evidence linking cumulative head trauma to later-life cognitive decline.
This study could intensify public and medical scrutiny of contact sports, affecting players, families, and league policies. It may prompt more former athletes to seek brain donation, while also influencing youth sports participation decisions. The findings could pressure leagues to adopt stricter safety protocols, though the self-selected sample means the actual risk remains uncertain. Society may face difficult conversations about acceptable risks in professional athletics.