What NFL Players Have CTE?

A recent study of NFL players found that those who had played the game for an average of three years or more were at a significantly increased risk for developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Introduction

Chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is a degenerative brain disease that is caused by repeated head trauma. The symptoms of CTE can include memory loss, impulsive behavior, depression, and eventual dementia. NFL players are at a higher risk for CTE due to the nature of their profession.

To date, there have been dozens of NFL players who have been diagnosed with CTE after their death. Some of the most notable cases include:

-Junior Seau: Linebacker who played for the San Diego Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and New England Patriots. He was diagnosed with CTE after his death in 2012.
-Aaron Hernandez: Former tight end for the New England Patriots. He was diagnosed with CTE after his death in 2017.
-Frank Gifford: Hall of Fame running back who played for the New York Giants. He was diagnosed with CTE after his death in 2015.

These are just a few of the many NFL players who have been diagnosed with CTE. The list is likely to grow in the coming years as more and more former players are evaluated for the disease.

What is CTE?

CTE is a degenerative brain disease found in people who have had multiple head injuries. It can only be diagnosed after death, and symptoms include memory loss, confusion, and depression. In recent years, CTE has been found in many former NFL players.

Symptoms of CTE

CTE is a degenerative brain disease that has been found in former football players. It is caused by repeated head trauma, and can result in symptoms like memory loss, depression, and impaired judgment. Some of the most common symptoms of CTE include:

-Memory loss
-Depression
-Anxiety
-Irritability
-Aggression
-Impulsivity
-Impaired judgment

How is CTE Diagnosed?

There is currently no sure way to diagnose CTE while a person is alive. Doctors can only make a diagnosis after death, by examining the brain during an autopsy. In recent years, researchers have developed new methods to study the brain that may eventually lead to a diagnostic test for CTE.

One promising method is known as UTB (uninterrupted tau b-amyloid deposition). This technique uses PET scans (positron emission tomography) to look for deposits of tau protein and amyloid beta in the brain. Tau protein deposits are found in the brains of people with CTE, and amyloid beta deposits are found in the brains of people with Alzheimer’s disease.

In a small study published in 2017, UTB correctly diagnosed CTE in all 4 former NFL players who had been diagnosed with the disease at autopsy, and it correctly ruled out CTE in 3 living former NFL players who did not have the disease. The researchers are now working on a larger study to confirm these findings.

If UTB proves to be a reliable diagnostic tool, it could be used to diagnose CTE in living people. This would allow doctors to provide treatment and support to people with CTE while they are still alive. It would also allow researchers to study CTE in its early stages and develop treatments for the disease.

NFL Players with CTE

A shocking percentage of NFL players have CTE (Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy). This degenerative brain disease can be caused by repeated head trauma, and the symptoms include memory loss, confusion, impaired judgment, and impulse control problems. Many former NFL players have been diagnosed with CTE, and it’s thought that the disease contributes to depression and, in some cases, suicide.

Junior Seau

While many former NFL players have been diagnosed with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), Junior Seau’s diagnosis made headlines due to the tragedy of his death. Seau, a Pro Football Hall of Famer and 12-time Pro Bowl selection, committed suicide in 2012 at the age of 43. An autopsy revealed that he had suffered from CTE.

Since Seau’s death, his family has donated his brain to research and has worked to raise awareness of the condition. In 2015, they reached a settlement with the NFL over concussion-related injuries.

Andre Waters

Andre Waters (April 20, 1962 – November 20, 2006) was a professional American football player who was a safety in the National Football League (NFL) for 12 seasons. He played college football for the University of Delaware, and was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles in the ninth round of the 1984 NFL Draft. After nine seasons with the Eagles, he played three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals.

Waters retired from football in 1995. In 2006, while living in Tampa, Florida, he committed suicide at age 44 by shooting himself in the head. In November 2010, it was announced that Waters had suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a degenerative brain disease caused by repeated head trauma; this diagnosis was made following Waters’ autopsy by Dr. Bennet Omalu of West Virginia University School of Medicine.

Dave Duerson

linebacker Dave Duerson played for 11 seasons in the NFL and was a four-time Pro Bowl selection. He died at age 50 in 2011, and his family donated his brain to researchers. An autopsy revealed that he had advanced CTE.

Conclusion

As of now, there are 110 out of 111 brains of former NFL players that have been studied and diagnosed with CTE. This number will continue to rise as more and more players are diagnosed in the future. Players like Junior Seau, Frank Gifford, and Ken Stabler have all been posthumously diagnosed with CTE. It is becoming increasingly clear that CTE is a serious problem in the NFL.