One-Third of Former NFL Players Believe They Have CTE, Harvard Study Reveals

The study highlights significant mental health concerns among ex-players, with many misattributing symptoms to CTE.

Nearly 2,000 former NFL players participated in a Harvard study, with 34% believing they have Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
CTE can only be definitively diagnosed post-mortem, leading to concerns that players may be misattributing treatable conditions to the disease.
About 25% of players who believe they have CTE reported experiencing suicidal thoughts, a rate five times higher than those who do not believe they have the condition.
Researchers found that many symptoms reported by players, such as depression, sleep apnea, and low testosterone, are treatable and may not be related to CTE.
The study calls for improved mental health support and education for former players to address treatable conditions and reduce the psychological burden of perceived CTE.