New research has once again drawn attention to the serious health consequences associated with playing American football. The study included 878 deceased former NFL players, whose outcomes were recorded in the period between 2016 and 2021. The aim of the analysis was to determine the frequency of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative condition linked to repeated head impacts.
Of the total number of deceased players, 235 had donated their brains for scientific research. Review of these samples revealed that 215 brains showed signs of CTE. Based on these figures, researchers calculated that the minimum prevalence of the condition is 24.5 per cent, while the maximum estimate is 97.7 per cent. These data clearly indicate that brain changes caused by repeated impacts are extremely widespread among former professional players.
In addition to the CTE diagnosis itself, researchers found that dementia was a common occurrence among the brain donors. Statistical data shows that the mortality rate from neurodegenerative diseases is four times higher among NFL players than in the general population. These findings confirm previous studies indicating that players have a higher prevalence of CTE at the time of death compared to the general population or other control groups.
It is important to note that the head impacts experienced by these former players did not all occur during professional games, but rather at the college, high school, and even childhood levels. This suggests that exposure to impacts began years before the players reached the professional level, which further complicates the issue of responsibility and prevention.
Despite the growing body of evidence regarding the harm, the NFL has taken certain steps. In 2011, through a collective agreement, the league limited contact in practice sessions to reduce the risk of injury from contact. However, it is still debated whether these measures were sufficient. In 2016, the NFL reached a settlement worth $1bn with more than 5,000 former players, as part of an attempt to compensate for long-term health problems arising during their careers.
