Key facts
- NFL players are four times more likely to die from neurodegenerative diseases like dementia and Parkinson's than the general population.
- The study analyzed health records of 19,824 NFL players who competed between 1960 and 2019.
- Players who died before age 60 had more than a 12-fold increased rate of neurodegenerative death.
- Longer careers (5+ seasons) were associated with nearly double the risk of neurodegenerative death.
- The research suggests a dose-response relationship between the amount of football played and the risk of neurodegenerative disease.
A comprehensive study involving nearly 20,000 National Football League (NFL) players has revealed a significantly higher mortality rate from neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia and Parkinson's disease, compared to the general population. The research, conducted by Boston University, the Concussion & CTE Foundation, and Mass General Brigham, found that NFL players are four times more likely to die from these conditions.
The study analyzed the health records of players who competed between 1960 and 2019. While overall mortality rates for NFL players were lower, likely due to their physical fitness, the incidence of neurodegenerative diseases was disproportionately high. Specifically, dementia mortality was 3.8 times higher and Parkinson's disease mortality was 3.88 times higher among players.
Researchers observed a clear dose-response relationship, indicating that the more years a player spent in the NFL, the greater their risk of developing these brain conditions. This effect was particularly pronounced in younger players; those who died before the age of 60 exhibited more than a 12-fold increase in neurodegenerative mortality. Players with careers of five or more seasons faced nearly double the risk compared to those with shorter careers.
Experts highlighted the magnitude of this increased risk, comparing it to the effects of heavy lead exposure, which is known to cause neurological damage. The findings suggest that repetitive head impacts sustained during football play are a primary environmental cause for these elevated rates of neurodegenerative disease, particularly Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE).
The study's implications raise questions about the lack of intervention from regulatory bodies like the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), especially given the dire nature of the findings and the established link between head trauma and these diseases.