Study Finds CTE in Quarter of Deceased Former NFL Players
Study Finds CTE in Quarter of Deceased Former NFL Players
Updated at: August 26, 2026 at 02:15 AM
A recent study published in The BMJ has shed new light on the health risks facing former NFL players.
By examining the brains of athletes who passed away between 2016 and 2021, researchers discovered that at least 24.5%—roughly one in four—suffered from Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
Daniel Daneshvar describes this figure as a conservative estimate, noting that the true prevalence could potentially be much higher.
Because CTE can only be definitively diagnosed after death, this study helps bridge the gap between small-sample brain bank research and the broader population of deceased players.
The findings also reveal a stark correlation between CTE and cognitive decline; among those with the condition, 61.3% showed symptoms of dementia, with that number rising to over 90% in the most severe cases.
While this study cannot track the health of living players, it has triggered urgent calls for increased player safety and further research into potential treatments for this life-altering condition.
