One-Third of Former Football Players Believe They Have Degenerative Brain Disease CTE, New Report Finds

Mar. 15, 2025

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Approximately one-third of former football players believe they have a degenerative brain disease known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), according to a new survey.

The study published in themedical journalJAMA Neurologyfound that approximately 34% of former professional football players “reported perceived CTE” as they experienced health problems associated with it.

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy is a “progressive degenerative” brain disease that affects people “who have suffered repeated concussions and traumatic brain injuries,” according to theIndiana University School of Medicine.

Symptoms of CTE include memory loss, aggression, confusion, depression, erratic behavior, suicidal tendencies, anxiety and trouble sleeping, and these symptoms can occur within months or even decades after the person suffered a “brain trauma incident.”

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The findings were obtained from a Harvard University study on former football players who played professionally from 1960 to 2020. The former players were asked to fill out surveys noting their football position, career and how long they played, along with their health problems.

Overall, 681 former athletes reported that they experienced symptoms associated with CTE, including “subjective cognitive difficulties,” “depressive/emotional and behavioral dyscontrol symptoms,” “low testosterone level,” “headache” and pain.

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More than 300 former players reported having suicidal thoughts. Per the report, 171 of the athletes that had perceived CTE (or 25%) reported this, whereas 64 of those who did not believe they had CTE (or 5%) reported suicidality. Nearly 20% of players who believed they had CTE also reported being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or “another dementia,” per the study.

However, researchers noted that they couldn’t be sure whether the players had CTE, as it can only be diagnosed posthumously following an autopsy examining the brain, and whether the CTE was directly attributed to their time playing football or another cause.

“While we wait for advances in CTE research to better address living players’ experiences, it is imperative that we identify conditions that are treatable,” she continued. “These efforts may reduce the chances that players will prematurely attribute symptoms to CTE which may lead to hopelessness and thoughts of self-harm.”

That report noted that while the “prevalence of CTE among NFL players is unknown,” “repetitive head impacts appear to be the chief risk factor for CTE.”

source: people.com