At least 25% of NFL players had CTE at death, new study finds

Around 25% of former National Football League players, who died between 2016 and 2021, had evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, at the time of death, according to a new study.

A study in the British Medical Journal published its findings on Aug. 25

The actual prevalence, researchers said, may be much higher.

That's a much higher rate than is seen in the general population. CTE is a brain disease linked to repeated blows to the head.

Playing football has long been linked to the brain disease known as CTE, but how prevalent it is is still unknown. A new study of former NFL players who died recently found that at least 25% had CTE.