New Study Uncovers Novel Link Between Football Players, CTE, and Health Problems

Study results published in JAMA Neurology showed that approximately one-third of living former professional American-style football (ASF) players believe they have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and this perception is associated with a higher prevalence of suicidality and an increased likelihood of experiencing health problems related to cognitive impairment. The study, conducted as part of the Football Players Health Study at Harvard University, suggests that perceived CTE may be a novel risk factor for suicidal thoughts and behaviors and emphasizes the importance of comprehensive diagnostic assessments and appropriate treatment for medical and behavioral conditions that may be mistakenly attributed to CTE neuropathologic change (CTE-NC).

The cross-sectional study was carried out between 2017 and 2020 and included former ASF players who had contracted with a professional league from 1960 to 2020. Participants completed electronic and paper surveys, providing information on demographics, football-related exposures, and current health problems. The primary outcome was the proportion of participants reporting perceived CTE. In all, 1980 participants completed the baseline survey and provided follow-up data.

• 34.4% of participants reported perceived CTE.
• Suicidality was reported by 25.4% of participants with perceived CTE, compared to 5.0% in participants without perceived CTE.
• After adjusting for established suicidality predictors, participants with perceived CTE were twice as likely to report suicidality (odds ratio, 2.06; 95% CI, 1.36 to 3.12; P<.001).
• The following factors were significantly associated with perceived CTE: subjective cognitive difficulties, low testosterone level, headache, concussion signs and symptoms accrued during playing years, depressive/emotional and behavioral dyscontrol symptoms, pain, and younger age.