At least 25% of former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE, study finds
While professional football and the degenerative brain disease known as CTE have long been linked, true prevalence has remained an open question. A new study finds that, among former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021, at least a quarter had CTE. Patrick Smith/Getty Images hide caption For years, as researchers have established a link between repeated impacts to the head and the degenerative brain disease known as CTE , one major question has loomed: Just how common is it — especially among high-risk groups, like professional football players ? A new study from researchers at Mass General Brigham, published Tuesday in the prominent medical journal The BMJ , seeks to establish a more accurate baseline of CTE prevalence among retired NFL players who have died. But we didn't know how common it was," said Dr.
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In a statement to NPR, an NFL spokesperson said the league "continuously strives to make the game of football safer, including by implementing strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts." "The NFL remains committed to ensuring that the NFL community has access to a robust — and expanding — set of resources to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing. They referenced demographic data and obtained death certificates for all deceased players from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to create a denominator list of 1,712 players who died in the same time period.
