New CTE study says about 25% of NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE

(NBC, KYMA) - About a quarter of NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had CTE.

That's according to a new study published Tuesday in the British Medical Journal.

The degenerative brain disease is linked to repeated hits to the head over a long period of time.

Symptoms often include mood disorders, behavioral changes and in severe cases, dementia.

Over a six year period where nearly 900 NFL players died, researchers received 235 brains.

Of that sample, nearly twenty-five percent were diagnosed with CTE.

In statement, the NFL says it strives to make football safer and offers resources to enhance players' physical and mental well-being.