{
  "id": 3748717,
  "title": "At Least One in Four Former NFL Players Who Died Between 2016 and 2021 Had the Progressive Brain Disease CTE, Study Suggests",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/27/at-least-one-in-four-former-nfl-players-who-died-between-2016-and",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-27T14:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Smithsonian",
    "slug": "smithsonian",
    "url": "https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/at-least-one-in-four-former-nfl-players-who-died-between-2016-and-2021-had-the-progressive-brain-disease-cte-study-suggests-180989406/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "A study published in the British Medical Journal on August 25 suggests that at least one in four former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head injuries. The true prevalence of CTE among the deceased NFL players may be even higher, according to the researchers. CTE is typically diagnosed post-mortem, as it can only be identified after death through brain analysis. Symptoms of CTE, such as memory loss and mood swings, can indicate the disease's presence. First diagnosed in a former NFL player in 2005, CTE has since been confirmed via autopsy in over 300 athletes. However, until now, researchers have struggled to determine the disease's prevalence among former NFL players. The study analyzed the brains of 1,712 former NFL players who died between 2008 and 2021, focusing on 878 individuals who died between 2016 and 2021. Of these, 235 had their brains donated for analysis, and 215 were found to have CTE. The researchers utilized special statistical methods to account for the unstudied brains, yielding an estimated CTE prevalence range. The minimum prevalence is estimated at 24.5%, with a maximum of 97.7%. These findings serve as a wake-up call for the NFL, according to the study's lead author. Despite the NFL's efforts to improve player safety, the study emphasizes the need for further action to protect players of all levels in the sport.",
  "summary": "The true prevalence of the neurodegenerative disease—which is associated with repeated head injuries—among the deceased football players might be much higher. CTE affects other athletes too, including hockey players, soccer players and wrestlers",
  "key_points": [
    "At least 24.5% of former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE.",
    "Study estimates CTE prevalence could be as high as 97.7% among deceased players.",
    "Researchers urge NFL to take further action for player safety."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "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."
}