New study estimates three quarters of deceased NFL players had CTE

An estimated 75 percent of National Football League players who died over a 16 year period suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy, according to a Boston University study reported by Science News, WBUR, and CBS News. Chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive brain damage that can currently only be diagnosed post mortem during an autopsy. Science News, ABC7 Chicago, and Sports Business Journal all reported that the research provides the first population level estimate of CTE prevalence across the league. [1][3][4][6][7]

The finding represents a new baseline for understanding CTE risks among professional American football players. Science News noted that a 2017 study of donated brain tissue had previously found signs of the disease in 99 percent of former NFL players analyzed. However, researchers recognized that selection bias affected those earlier brain bank samples because families who volunteered brains were more likely to suspect that their deceased relatives had suffered from neurological issues. [1]

To address this selection bias, Boston University researchers constructed a comprehensive population estimate for players who died within the specified 16 year timeframe. According to coverage from WBUR and NBC 15 WPMI, the revised analysis offers a clearer picture of how widespread the condition has been among deceased athletes and raises ongoing concerns regarding safety protocols in football. [2][6][8]