About the Study: In a cross-sectional study of 2,362 former NFL players who died between 2008 and 2023, researchers estimated that 74.5% had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) neuropathology at death after adjusting for selection bias associated with brain donation.
Although the adjusted estimate was substantially lower than the 93.5% prevalence observed among brain donors, the findings suggest that selection bias inflates donor-based estimates but does not fully explain the high burden of CTE neuropathology among deceased former NFL players. The authors note that further research is needed to better understand the clinical manifestations and health impact of CTE.
Corresponding Author: Yorghos Tripodis, PhD, Department of Biostatistics, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany St, Boston, MA 02118 (yorghos@bu.edu).
10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.40884
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Journal
JAMA Network Open
Article Title
Bias-Adjusted Prevalence of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy Among Deceased National Football League Players
Article Publication Date
28-Oct-2026