New Study Puts CTE Rate in Former NFL Players at 74.5%

Seventy-four point five percent. That is the precise estimate for chronic traumatic encephalopathy among former NFL players, according to a study published Wednesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The figure represents a narrowing of previous estimates that ranged from 25% to 98%. The research team examined data from 2,362 deceased former NFL players. Of that total, 396 had donated their brains for examination, while 1,966 had not. Among the brain donors, 93.5% showed signs of CTE. Researchers adjusted for the likelihood that families of players with cognitive symptoms were more likely to donate brains. Yorghos Tripodis, a professor of biostatistics at Boston University and an author of the paper, noted that his group's earlier study could only provide a broad range. He stated that the team wanted a more precise answer. The study also estimated that 27.2% of the former players had dementia during their lifetime. The researchers cautioned that this figure likely underestimates the true prevalence. Tripodis told ABC News that more than 20 million men alive today in the US have played football. He described understanding the rate of CTE as an important public health question. The findings build on a study published in August that found at least one in four former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 may have had CTE. Many of the same researchers worked on both projects. The NFL issued a statement saying it continuously strives to make the game safer. The league referenced strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts. It said it remains committed to providing resources to enhance the physical and mental well-being of the NFL community. The NFL Players Association told ABC News that the August study was a sobering reminder of the risks football carries. The union said the risks can have lasting consequences for players and their families. The NFLPA stated the findings reinforce its core priority of improving player safety. The organization supports players throughout their lives, both during and after their careers. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines CTE as a brain disease associated with repeated hits to the head. The condition involves a buildup of abnormal proteins that damage brain tissue and can cause brain cells to die. The disease can only be diagnosed after death. This requirement means families must donate a loved one's brain for examination. Researchers noted that families observing cognitive symptoms during life may be more likely to donate. This behavior can make CTE appear more common than it is. To account for this potential bias, researchers estimated that families who noticed cognitive symptoms were about five times more likely to donate a brain. They adjusted their analysis accordingly. Tripodis said no study like this can remove every possible bias. He added that even under very conservative assumptions, the estimate does not go below 60%. In September of 2016, NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell announced an initiative called Play Safe, Play Smart. The organization pledged $100 million to player safety. Goodell said the initiative aims to drive progress in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of head injuries. He noted it enhances medical protocols and improves how the game is taught and played.

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