JAMA Neurol

Perceived CTE among football players linked to suicidality

September 26, 2024

Approximately 34% of former professional American-style football (ASF) players reported perceived chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in a survey. Perceived CTE was significantly associated with several health problems, and more men with perceived CTE reported suicidality compared with those without.

• This population-based study was conducted within Harvard’s Football Players Health Study and included former ASF players who contracted with a professional league from 1960 to 2020 and volunteered to fill out a baseline survey.
• Out of 1,980 participants (mean age, 57.7 years), 34.4% reported perceived CTE. Factors such as cognitive difficulties, low testosterone, headaches, and depressive symptoms were significantly associated with perceived CTE.
• Suicidality was reported by 25.4% of participants with perceived CTE, vs. 5% without perceived CTE. Even after adjusting for depression, perceived CTE remained a significant risk factor for suicidality.

Source:

Grashow R, et al. (2024, September 23). JAMA Neurol. Perceived Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy and Suicidality in Former Professional Football Players. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39312218/