NFL Players Four Times More Likely to Die of Neurodegenerative Diseases, Study Finds

NFL players are four times more likely than the general population to die of neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Parkinson's, according to a study released Wednesday by Mass General Brigham, Boston University and the Concussion & CTE Foundation.

Researchers examined 19,824 athletes who played in the NFL between 1960 and 2019, including the 1,994 who have died. The study, described as the largest retrospective cohort study to date, found consistent results across all eras examined.

Players who died before age 60 showed 12-fold higher rates of neurodegenerative death than the general population. Skill-position players had a neurodegenerative disease listed as a cause of death at nearly twice the rate of offensive and defensive linemen. "The results are tragic but not surprising," said Dr.

Daniel Daneshvar, co-senior author and chair of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School. " NFL players showed lower death rates from cancer, cardiovascular disease and suicide than national averages. Daneshvar noted that death certificates often list imprecise causes, such as pneumonia, while overlooking underlying dementia.

The findings align with a 2025 ESPN survey of 546 men who played in the 1988 NFL season. Fifteen percent of those players reported a doctor had diagnosed them with dementia.