Study links American football and brain disease Research published in the British Medical Journal estimates a minimum one-in-four prevalence of C.T.E. among deceased NFL players – with data indicating that the sobering reality could be potentially far greater WHAT IS C.T.E.? Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy is a degenerative brain disease associated with repeated impacts to the head Neurological condition can only be definitively diagnosed after death – caused by not only major concussions, but cumulative subconcussive hits Normal brain C.T.E. brain Repeated lifetime trauma causes brain cells to die and tissue to shrink Symptoms Memory loss and confusion Mood changes Executive dysfunction Impulsive behaviour, depression and addiction STUDY FINDINGS Researchers identified 878 former NFL players – who died between 2016 and 2021 – and carried out postmortem diagnoses Brains examined 235 Diagnosed with C.T.E. 215 91.5*% 24.5% Minimum prevalence across entire cohort (215 of 878), even though almost three-quarters were never tested If minimum 24.5% rate applied to NFL rosters, equivalent would be 13 players per team Total 1696 NFL players, 32 teams. ≈416 C.T.E. cases THE AMERICAN DREAM Growing number of C.T.E. cases has had negligible effect on NFL’s popularity, which generated $23bn revenue in 2024. Meaningful change may have to begin at grassroots level Levels of American football Youth High school College football NFL Reducing risk: Researchers recommend children avoiding full-contact youth football – C.T.E. has been found in 15-year-old boys Equipment myths: No evidence found to indicate helmets and mouth guards effectively reduce brain injuries LEGACY Growing awareness of C.T.E. has expanded sample size for research. Eight members of 1972 Miami Dolphins – only undefeated team in NFL history – have been diagnosed with disease, including Mercury Morris (inset) who died in 2024, age 77 Pictures: Pexels (Kodi Baines), Getty Images Sources: New York Times, Guardian *91.5% of examined brains had CTE © GRAPHIC NEWS