Study estimates CTE prevalence could reach 75% among NFL players
A new estimate suggests that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a neurodegenerative disease associated with repeated head trauma, may affect as many as 75% of NFL players. The figure represents the first estimate of CTE prevalence across the league.
The estimate raises concerns about the long-term health effects of repeated impacts in professional football, although the reported prevalence is a projection rather than a diagnosis for every affected player. Further research will be needed to establish how widely the disease occurs and which factors are most strongly associated with it.