A new study estimates that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) was present in 75% of former NFL players who died between 2008 and 2023 and whose brains were examined by researchers. The findings highlight the long-term neurological risks associated with repeated head impacts in professional football.
The research analyzed brain tissue from former players who passed away during the 15-year period. CTE, a progressive degenerative brain disease linked to repetitive head trauma, can only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem. The 75% prevalence rate underscores growing concerns about player safety and the long-term consequences of concussions and sub-concussive hits sustained during NFL careers.
The study adds to a growing body of evidence connecting contact sports to neurodegenerative disease. Previous research from Boston University's CTE Center has documented the condition in hundreds of former football players at various levels of competition. The NFL has implemented rule changes and protocol improvements in recent years aimed at reducing head injuries, though critics argue more comprehensive measures are needed.
