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

The study also found dementia was common among brain donors, with researchers urging prevention measures across all levels of the sport.

At least 1 in 4 former NFL players who died from 2016 to 2021 was found to have had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to a study released on Tuesday.

Out of the 878 former players who died during that time frame, 235 donated their brains, researchers said, with 215 of those donated brains found to have CTE, a degenerative disease that can only definitively be diagnosed after death.

An NFL spokesperson said: “The NFL continuously strives to make the game of football safer, including by implementing strategies to reduce concussions and head impacts.

“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 well-being.

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