A team of researchers at the University of Buffalo has concluded that the degenerative brain disease CTE is not inevitable in athletes who suffer frequent blows to the head.
The team studied 21 retired players from the Buffalo Bills and the Sabres. Their report, published in medical journals this week, suggests the risk of the chronic brain disease may not be as great as feared. The paper says the disease definitely exists, but is not as dangerous as previously thought.
The researchers found no signs of early-onset dementia in the 21 former football and hockey players they examined. That’s generally a precursor to CTE.
Avoiding CTE has become a goal of amateur and professional sports. The researchers say their results show it’s not inevitable.