Study finds potential brain disease risk for NFL players

A new study indicates that at least a quarter of NFL players may develop chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease linked to repeated head impacts. Published on August 25, 2026, the research examined the brains of 878 deceased NFL players, with 215 confirmed cases of CTE. The findings suggest that CTE prevalence is higher among NFL players than previously reported, correlating with documented cases of dementia. Acknowledging limitations in their research, the authors emphasize the need for further studies to clarify CTE rates. The study is led by Daniel Daneshvar of Harvard Medical School and published in the British Medical Journal.

• 2:25 PMYahoo Sports — At least a quarter of NFL players may get brain disease: study