At least 1 in 4 ex-NFL players who died from 2016 to 2021 had CTE, study finds

A concerning study reveals that at least one in four former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head impacts. The research, a collaboration between Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation, was published in The British Medical Journal.

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The true prevalence likely lies somewhere in the middle.

The study analyzed brain donations from former players, finding that 91.4% of those who donated their brains and died in that period had CTE. Researchers estimated the prevalence in the broader group of deceased players from that timeframe to be between 24.5% and 97.7%, suggesting the actual rate is likely substantial.

Furthermore, the study highlighted a strong association between severe CTE and dementia, with 61.3% of former players diagnosed with CTE also meeting clinical criteria for dementia. Daniel Daneshvar, the study's lead author, described the findings as a "wake-up call" for the NFL and scientific communities, emphasizing the need for dedicated resources to find a cure.

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Community brain bank studies have shown that CTE affects less than 1% of the general population. To find that somewhere between 24.5% and 97.7% of NFL players from that time period had this progressive brain disease is a wake-up call for the NFL and scientific communities.

In response, an NFL spokesperson stated the league "continuously strives to make the game of football safer" and is committed to providing resources for player health and well-being. The league encourages former players to utilize these resources for health concerns. Researchers recommend future studies focus on more recent athletes and prevention efforts targeting repetitive head impacts, not just concussions.

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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. We encourage former کھلاڑی to utilize these resources to identify and seek treatment when they are concerned about their health.