Study Finds CTE in About 75% of Deceased Former NFL Players

WHO:

The Guardian - The study was conducted by a Boston-based research team; Yorghos Tripodis was its senior author.

Reddit Sports - The study examined deceased former NFL players.

NBC News - The study concerned professional football players who died during the study’s 15-year span.

WHAT:

The Guardian - The study found that brain changes associated with CTE do not necessarily mean a person will develop dementia or experience declining cognitive abilities; some people with CTE may never develop noticeable symptoms.

The Guardian - The study’s senior author, Yorghos Tripodis, said researchers hoped to develop effective treatments for CTE and that brain-bank discoveries had brought them closer to diagnosing it during life.

The Guardian - At least one in four former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE, according to a study released in August.

The Guardian - Junior Seau, Dave Duerson and Aaron Hernandez were among high-profile NFL players who died by suicide and were found to have CTE after their brains were analyzed.

The Guardian - The analysis included records for players who spent an average of five years in the NFL.

The Guardian - Of nearly 400 players whose brains were donated for examination, 93.5% showed evidence of CTE.

The Guardian - Researchers estimated that approximately 27% of the former players included in the analysis had dementia.

The Guardian - Physical changes associated with CTE include brain atrophy and accumulations of tau protein.

The Guardian - Potential CTE symptoms include depression, memory problems, severe mood changes and other behavioral difficulties.

The Guardian - The study’s authors said less than 1% of brain samples from community-based brain banks contain evidence of CTE.

The Guardian - The NFL said it seeks to improve player safety, including through strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts.

Boston.com - The study estimated that nearly three-quarters of players who died had CTE.

Reddit Sports - A study estimated that about three in four former NFL players had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE); it examined 2,362 deceased former NFL players.

NBC News - The study estimated that 75% of professional football players who died over a 15-year span had signs of CTE.

NBC News - The study’s estimate was described as the highest to date.

WHEN:

Boston.com - The study covered players who died between 2008 and 2023.

NBC News - The study was published on a Wednesday and covered a 15-year span.

WHY:

The Guardian - Tripodis said the findings may concern living players and their families, and that researchers and others were available to provide support.

NBC News - The study assessed signs of CTE among professional football players who died during the span.

HOW:

Daily Mail Sports - CTE can only be diagnosed after death, so research depends on brains donated by players or their families.

The Guardian - The researchers described the study as the first attempt to estimate CTE prevalence among all former NFL players who died during the study period, rather than only those whose brains were donated.

Boston.com - The research was published in a peer-reviewed journal.

Reddit Sports - The study examined 2,362 deceased former NFL players.

NBC News - The study estimated the share of deceased professional football players who had signs of CTE.

A study of 2,362 deceased former NFL players estimated that about three-quarters had signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, the highest estimate to date. Researchers examined records spanning 15 years and aimed to estimate CTE prevalence among all players who died during that period, not just those whose brains were donated; CTE can currently be diagnosed only after death. The findings also show that brain changes linked to CTE do not necessarily lead to dementia or noticeable cognitive decline, and researchers say the work could help bring diagnosis during life closer.