According to an investigation published Tuesday, 110 out of 111 former N.F.L. players’ brains had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (C.T.E.), a deteriorating disease allegedly caused by hits to the head and entailing symptoms such as memory problems, depression and dementia.

The study encompassed the brains of players who died at various ages, and played various positions, from quarterbacks and linebackers to punters.

C.T.E. can only be determined after death, and the study acknowledges that the brain bank selection pool was probably skewed, since family members chose to donate brains because they suspected C.T.E. However, 110 out of 111 brains is a significant number which throws a shadow on the already concussion-troubled sport of football.

Do these findings deter you from playing football? Would you want your kids playing football? Do you think this will lead to changes in the sport, or even a national shift away from the N.F.L.? 

Guest:

Dan Daneshvar, a co-first author on the paper “Clinicopathological Evaluation of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy in Players of American Football;” he is a researcher at the Boston University CTE center