Study estimates 75% of deceased NFL players had signs of CTE

A study published in JAMA Network Open estimates that about 75% of former NFL players who died between 2008 and 2023 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head trauma, CBS News reported.

The research, led by Boston University, analyzed 387 deceased players and found 362 had some form of CTE. To address potential selection bias, researchers adjusted for the fact that players with cognitive symptoms were more likely to have their brains donated, resulting in an overall estimate of 74.5% prevalence, according to CBS News.

CTE can only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem and is rarely seen in the general population. The disease has been found in athletes, first responders, and military members who have experienced repeated head impacts, NBC News noted.

Not all individuals with CTE show symptoms during life. The study found that about 27% of the former players analyzed were estimated to have dementia, NBC News added. The findings build on earlier research that showed a wide range of CTE prevalence among deceased NFL players.

Boston University researchers highlighted the need for improved diagnosis and treatment of CTE-related symptoms in living individuals. The study does not predict how many living or active players may have CTE, CBS News reported.