BMJ Study Finds 25% of Ex-NFL Players with CTE

A BMJ study reports that at least about a quarter of former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE, based on brain donations from 878 players. Across the broader 2008–2021 dataset, CTE was confirmed in the vast majority of donated brains, though researchers caution the true prevalence may be higher because many brains were not donated. The study links advanced CTE (stage IV) with pre-mortem dementia-like symptoms, and notes most donated brains came from players who had concerns during life. Brain-bank samples are biased toward higher-risk individuals, so the reported rates likely overestimate prevalence in all NFL players. The findings underscore the challenge of quantifying CTE in living players and suggest potential impacts of repetitive head trauma beyond the NFL era to college and high school levels. The NFL and researchers emphasize ongoing safety improvements and health resources, while reiterating that CTE can only be diagnosed after death.