Nearly 75% of Deceased NFL Players Had CTE Over 16-Year Span, Boston University Study Reveals
A Boston University study reveals nearly 75% of NFL players who died from 2008 to 2023 suffered from CTE, prompting calls for better player safety.
POLICY WIRE — Boston, United States — A groundbreaking study led by Boston University researchers indicates that roughly three out of four former NFL players who passed away between 2008 and 2023 were afflicted with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
CTE is a progressive degenerative brain disease caused by repetitive head impacts that can currently only be definitively diagnosed during post-mortem examinations. While the condition has been identified in various athletes, first responders, and military members, it remains exceptionally rare among the general population.
Published in JAMA Network Open, the investigation analyzed donor brain tissues to assess the widespread impact of long-term football-related head trauma on former professional athletes.
Lead author Julia Gallini emphasized the stark contrast between the general public and former professional football players.
“With CTE consistently found in less than 1% of donors to community brain banks, an estimated 75% prevalence among NFL players who died over a 16-year period is concerning, and suggests we need to increase efforts to support families, diagnose CTE during life, and treat CTE-related symptoms,” Gallini stated.
The updated research builds upon an August study from Boston University, which had estimated CTE prevalence among deceased ex-NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 to range anywhere from 25% to 98%.
Researchers acknowledged that previous wide estimates stemmed from selection bias, as individuals experiencing neurological or cognitive issues were significantly more inclined to donate their brains for medical research.
In the latest study, post-mortem examinations revealed that 362 out of 387 deceased former players had some form of CTE, yielding an unadjusted prevalence rate of 94% among brain donors.
To account for selection bias, investigators calculated that former players displaying cognitive symptoms were five times more likely to have their brains donated, adjusting the prevalence estimate across all deceased players to 74.5%.
The authors noted that the analysis focused exclusively on deceased players and does not predict how many active or living retired players currently live with CTE.
Former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, who served as an ambassador for the study, expressed concerns over the physical toll endured by previous generations of players.
“it is hard to learn what the guys who built the game have suffered through,” Hasselbeck said in a statement. “We have to learn from this data to make the game safer, because we cannot accept these numbers for the next generation of players.”
In response to the study, the NFL stated that it “continuously strives to make the game of football safer, including by implementing strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts.”
The league pointed toward protective equipment innovations, including Guardian Caps, alongside game rule changes intended to mitigate head trauma.
“The NFL remains committed to ensuring that the NFL community has access to a robust – and expanding – set of resources to enhance their physical and mental wellbeing,” the league said, urging former players to utilize health resources when concerned about their health.
Meanwhile, the NFL Players Association described the publication as one of many “critical” studies needed to evaluate the long-term health consequences of playing professional football.
The union affirmed its ongoing commitment to scientific research and expanding healthcare access to support players’ physical and mental well-being during and after their playing careers.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
