Brain disease in dead NFL players 'higher than previously shown'

A recent study reveals that up to 97.7% of NFL players who passed away between 2016 and 2021 may have suffered from brain disease caused by repeated head trauma. The research examined 878 former players who had donated their brains for examination, with 215 of those individuals testing positive for chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition only diagnosed post-mortem. The study, published in the British Medical Journal, also highlighted that dementia was prevalent among these brain donors.

CTE is four times more likely to be a cause of death among former NFL players compared to the general population, according to the study's lead author, Daniel Daneshvar, an associate professor at Harvard Medical School. This finding suggests that NFL players are more likely to have CTE at the time of their death than previously thought in various community-based studies.

The researchers calculated a conservative minimum prevalence of CTE among those who died during the six-year period to be 24.5%, with a maximum prevalence of 97.7%. They have called upon the NFL to implement prevention measures to reduce the number of head impacts across all levels of the sport.

The majority of head impacts experienced by former NFL players occurred during their time in college, high school, and at the youth level, rather than solely at the professional level, according to Daneshvar. He explained that cumulative hits to the head from these numerous games added up to an increased risk for developing CTE.

An NFL spokesperson stated that the organization is continuously working to make the sport of football safer, including by implementing strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts. The NFL remains committed to providing resources to help former players maintain their physical and mental well-being. The league encourages former players to utilize these resources to address any health concerns they may have.