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Getting the latest healthcare news for you
Getting the latest healthcare news for you
A new study reveals that at least 1 in 4 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Of 235 donated brains, 215 tested positive for the degenerative brain disease. Researchers say the damage largely stems from hits accumulated during youth, high school, and college play — not just the pros.
A major new study from Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation has found that at least 1 in 4 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) — a degenerative brain disease that can only be confirmed after death. Of the 878 former players who died in that period, 235 donated their brains, and a striking 215 of those tested positive for CTE.
Lead researcher Dr. Daniel Daneshvar of Harvard Medical School emphasized that the damage doesn't start in the NFL — it accumulates over a lifetime of play. Former players also die from neurodegenerative disease at roughly four times the rate of the general population, and dementia was common among brain donors in the study.
Key Takeaways:
Why it matters: CTE's roots run deep — long before players reach the professional level. Expanding practice safety rules beyond the NFL could protect millions of young athletes and meaningfully reduce the long-term burden of neurodegenerative disease.
