At least 1 in 4 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE, study finds

Between 2016 and 2021, a study conducted by researchers from Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation found that at least one in four former NFL players who died had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of death. This prevalence was much higher than the general population, where CTE affects less than 1%.

Additionally, 61.3% of NFL players with CTE met clinical criteria for dementia, with the most severe form of the disease, Stage IV CTE, strongly associated with dementia and greater impairment in cognition and daily functioning. The study, published in The BMJ, aimed to estimate the prevalence of CTE in former NFL players by analyzing donated brains from 2008 to 2021.

Of the 878 former NFL players who died during this period, 235 donated their brains, and 215 (91.4%) of these brains were found to have CTE. Researchers noted a need for resources to develop a cure for CTE and emphasized that help is available for those concerned about their brain health.