Neurodegenerative Mortality May Be Higher in NFL Players - Report - MDSpire

Neurodegenerative Mortality May Be Higher in NFL Players

The largest study of former National Football League players found excess persisted even after accounting for the lower overall mortality associated with elite athletic participation.

  • By

  • Andrea Surnit

  • July 15, 2026

  • 4 min

Share

Clinical Report: Neurodegenerative Mortality May Be Higher in NFL Players

Overview

Former NFL players exhibit nearly four times the neurodegenerative mortality compared to the general US population, despite having lower overall mortality rates. This study reports disparities in neurodegenerative mortality based on playing position, career duration, and race.

Background

The health outcomes of former professional athletes, particularly regarding neurodegenerative diseases, have gained increasing attention. This study provides insights into the long-term health consequences of repetitive head impacts in contact sports.

Data Highlights

MeasureMortality Rate
Neurodegenerative mortality (NFL players)~4 times higher than general population
Overall mortality (NFL players)30% lower than expected
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis mortality~4 times higher than expected
All-cause dementia mortality~4 times higher than expected
Parkinson disease mortality~4 times higher than expected

Key Findings

  • Former NFL players had neurodegenerative mortality nearly four times higher than the general population.
  • Overall mortality among NFL players was 30% lower than expected.
  • Players in speed positions had higher neurodegenerative mortality compared to nonspeed players.
  • Players with careers lasting at least 5 years had higher mortality from neurodegenerative diseases than those with shorter careers.
  • Non-White players exhibited higher mortality from amyotrophic lateral sclerosis compared to White players.
  • Players who died before age 60 had higher neurodegenerative mortality relative to age-standardized population rates.

Clinical Implications

The findings highlight the need for further research into the neurodegenerative health of former NFL players, particularly regarding the specific risks associated with playing position and career duration.

Conclusion

This study reports an association between NFL participation and elevated neurodegenerative mortality, independent of overall mortality advantages.

Related Resources & Content

  1. Charlotte B. Luster et al., eClinicalMedicine, 2023 -- Neurodegenerative mortality among National Football League Players
  2. Brain, 2023 -- Brain health concerns in former rugby players: clinical and cognitive phenotypes
  3. Brain, 2023 -- Biomarker evidence of neurodegeneration in mid-life former rugby players
  4. Acta Neuropathologica, 2023 -- Risks Associated with Contact Sports: Neurodegenerative Changes and Diffuse Brain Swelling Observed in a 23-Year-Old Rugby Player
  5. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport–Amsterdam, October 2022 | British Journal of Sports Medicine
  6. Acta Neuropathologica — Dementia in Retired Soccer Players Linked to Multiple Pathologies, Including Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy
  7. Consensus statement on concussion in sport: the 6th International Conference on Concussion in Sport–Amsterdam, October 2022 | British Journal of Sports Medicine
  8. Neurodegenerative mortality among National Football League Players - ScienceDirect
  9. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Consensus Diagnostic Criteria for Traumatic Encephalopathy Syndrome | Neurology

Original Source(s)

Neurodegenerative Mortality May Be Higher in NFL Players

  • by Andrea Surnit

  • July 15, 2026

Related Content

Could Medicaid Data Deter Emergency Care?

New Medicaid data-sharing policies raise concerns that fear of ICE could keep patients from seeking emergency treatment.

Neuropsych Factors Linked to Light Sensitivity in TBI

Depression and cognition linked to symptom severity and lens response in traumatic brain injury

Smell Screening With a Mobile Test

Researchers evaluated a rapid, self-administered mobile application–based test designed to screen for olfactory dysfunction in adult participants.