Brain disease in dead NFL players 'higher than previously shown'


Brain scans of a former NFL player who was diagnosed with CTE

Up to 97.7% of NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 may have had brain disease from repeated head blows, according to a new study.


The research examined 878 former players, of whom 235 donated their brains to science. Among those, 215 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease that can only be diagnosed after death.


The study, published in the British Medical Journal, also highlighted that dementia was common among brain donors.


Lead author Daniel Daneshvar, Harvard Medical School, notes that NFL players have about a four‑times higher death rate from neurodegenerative disease than the general population.


Daneshvar’s findings show that the prevalence of CTE at death is higher than previously reported in earlier community studies.


The research estimates a conservative minimum prevalence of 24.5%, rising to a maximum of 97.7%.


Experts call on the NFL to implement measures to reduce repetitive head impacts at all levels of the sport.


“Most head impacts these players experienced did not occur at the NFL level but at college, high‑school and youth levels,” says Daneshvar.


The NFL spokesman emphasised the league’s commitment to player safety, stating they continue to implement strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts, and encourage former players to seek help.


Since 2016 the NFL agreed a $1bn settlement with more than 5,000 former players following a class action suit.