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CTE

·October 28, 2025·9 min read

Football Players Show Subtle Brain Differences Linked to CTE Risk

Brain scans of former football players revealed subtle differences in brain grooves compared to men who never played contact sports, possibly marking early signs of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). Researchers found that players had shallower grooves in a key frontal region previously associated with CTE and that years of play correlated with structural changes in another area of the brain.

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·September 17, 2025·5 min read

Early Brain Damage From Sports Hits Seen Long Before CTE

New research shows that repetitive head impacts from contact sports trigger early and lasting brain changes in athletes years before chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is detectable. The study found neuron loss, microglial activation, and blood vessel changes in athletes under 51, even in those without tau buildup, the usual CTE marker.

This shows a brain and a football helmet.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·July 11, 2025·5 min read

Study Challenges Link Between Football and Brain Protein Buildup

A new study questions whether playing youth football leads to harmful protein buildup in the brain. Researchers examined 174 donated brains, including former high school and college players, and found no link between contact sports and excess tau protein in a key memory region.

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·November 29, 2024·4 min read

Family History of Mental Illness Increases Aggression Risk in CTE

A new study reveals that individuals with chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and a family history of mental illness have a heightened risk of aggression during adulthood, particularly between ages 40 and 59. Researchers analyzed data from 845 men with histories of head injuries, finding that those with both CTE and a family history of mental illness displayed significantly more aggressive behaviors than those with only one risk factor.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·September 23, 2024·6 min read

One-Third of Former NFL Players Fear They Have CTE

A new study of nearly 2,000 former NFL players reveals that about one-third believe they have chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a condition linked to repeated head trauma. Those who believed they had CTE reported higher rates of cognitive problems, depression, chronic pain, and suicidality compared to those who did not.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·November 29, 2023·7 min read

Persistent Brain Repair Signals in Ex-NFL Players

A new study on former NFL athletes reveals prolonged high levels of the repair protein TSPO, indicating long-term brain inflammation post-injury. This protein, usually elevated after a traumatic brain injury (TBI) as part of the immune response, was found at high levels years after athletes ended their sports careers.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·August 28, 2023·4 min read

41% of Young Athletes Show Signs of CTE

A new study reveals alarming rates of CTE among young athletes under 30, including the first American woman athlete diagnosed with the condition. The study found that 41.4% of the athletes examined had neuropathological evidence of CTE, a degenerative brain disease caused by repetitive head impacts (RHI).

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·June 24, 2023·6 min read

Force, Not Frequency, Key to CTE Onset

Researchers redefined the leading factor contributing to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a severe neurological disorder. Traditionally, CTE was believed to stem from frequent head hits, regardless of concussions.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience Open Neuroscience Articles

·March 17, 2023·8 min read

Elite Football Players Are More Likely to Develop Dementia

Elite football players are 1.5 times more likely to develop a neurodegenerative disorder such as Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's, or ALS than the general population.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·March 3, 2023·7 min read

NFL Players Who Experienced Concussion Symptoms During Careers Show Reduced Cognitive Performance Decades After Retirement

Retired football players who experienced concussions during their careers performed worse on cognitive tests than non-players. The findings add to the growing body of evidence that suggests head injuries experienced by football players accelerate cognitive aging. Researchers say the results underlie the importance of tracking concussion symptoms in football players as opposed to concussion diagnosis.

Featured Neurology Neuroscience

·February 12, 2023·5 min read

For Former Football Players, Concussion and Hypertension Go Hand in Hand

The chance a former football player will be diagnosed with hypertension when they retire rises in step with the number of concussions they experienced during their career. High blood pressure may be another driver of cognitive decline in conjunction with repeated TBI for football players. However, controlling blood pressure could help slow both cardiovascular and cognitive decline.