High Rate of Brain Disease Among Deceased NFL Players

Seventy-five percent of deceased NFL players examined in a study had a brain disease called chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that the estimated rate of CTE among these players was significantly higher than in the general population. The research team examined the brains of 202 deceased NFL players, with 151 of them testing positive for CTE. The average age of death was 51 years old.

CTE is a progressive degenerative brain disease found in individuals with a history of repetitive brain trauma, including symptomatic concussions as well as asymptomatic subconcussive hits to the head. The disease can cause a range of symptoms, including memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, impulse control problems, aggression, depression, and, eventually, progressive dementia.

The study also found that the risk of developing CTE increased with the number of years played in the NFL. Players who had played in the NFL for more than five years had a higher rate of CTE than those who had played for fewer years.

The findings come as the NFL continues to face scrutiny over its handling of concussions and brain injuries. The league has been criticized for not doing enough to protect players from the long-term effects of head injuries.

The study's authors noted that the findings should be interpreted with caution, as the sample of deceased players may not be representative of all NFL players. However, they also emphasized that the high rate of CTE among the players studied is a cause for concern and warrants further investigation.