{
  "id": 3287197,
  "title": "Aat least 1 in 4 ex-NFL players gets CTE, brain study shows",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/aat-least-1-in-4-ex-nfl-players-gets-cte-brain-study-shows",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-25T15:06:33.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Yahoo Sports",
    "slug": "yahoo-sports",
    "url": "https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/aat-least-1-4-ex-150633962.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A recent study published in the British Medical Journal reveals that nearly one in four former NFL players has been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease. Between 2016 and 2021, 25% of deceased former players tested positive for CTE. Researchers from Harvard Medical School, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Boston University collaborated on the study, which examined brain donations from 1,712 ex-NFL players. Of those, 215 were diagnosed with CTE, though 643 brains were not analyzed. The prevalence of CTE at death ranged from 18.5% to 98.7%. The most severe form of CTE, stage IV, was found in 104 brain donors and was often associated with dementia. The study emphasizes the NFL's commitment to player safety, including strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts. The league urges former players to seek resources for physical and mental well-being.",
  "summary": "Nearly 25% of all ex-NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE,, according to a study published Tuesday.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 3,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "ABC News (US)",
        "title": "1 in 4 former NFL players may have CTE, new study says",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/1-in-4-former-nfl-players-may-have-cte-new-study-says",
        "published": "2026-08-25T14:20:36.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hill",
        "title": "Study suggests at least 25 percent of NFL players get CTE",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/25/study-suggests-at-least-25-percent-of-nfl-players-get-cte",
        "published": "2026-08-25T16:03:05.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}