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The NFL’s Troubling Narrative on CTE: Why Awareness Isn’t the Enemy
Every time a bone-jarring tackle electrifies a Super Bowl crowd, a shadow hangs over the celebration. While 125 million viewers tune in for the spectacle, the NFL and NFL Players Association (NFLPA) appear increasingly focused on controlling the conversation around chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a devastating brain disease linked to repetitive head impacts. This isn’t about preventing discussion; it’s about shaping it – and a recent study raises serious questions about the tactics being employed.
A Widow’s Fury and a Study Under Scrutiny
The concern isn’t academic. Eleanor Perfetto, Ph.D., knows the brutal reality of CTE firsthand. Her husband, Ralph Wenzel, a seven-year NFL veteran, succumbed to the disease, experiencing a heartbreaking decline from memory lapses in his 50s to full-blown dementia and eventual memory care. Perfetto’s story, and the grief of countless other families, underscores the urgency of understanding and addressing CTE.
Perfetto’s outrage stems from a recent study by Harvard’s Football Players Health Study (FPHS), funded in part by the NFLPA. The study controversially suggested that increased “awareness” of CTE might be contributing to a 2.6-fold increase in NFL player suicides between 1979-2010 and 2011-2019. The implication – that players might choose suicide out of fear of developing CTE – is, to many, a deeply flawed and potentially damaging narrative.
Methodological Concerns and a Search for Significance
Perfetto, a trained public health researcher, meticulously dissected the FPHS study and found significant methodological issues. The researchers, she points out, engaged in what’s known as “p-hacking” – repeatedly testing different parameters until they achieved a statistically significant result. Switching the cutoff year from 2010 to 2011, for example, dramatically altered the findings. When NFL players were compared to themselves across the same time periods, the increase in suicide rates wasn’t statistically significant.
Further complicating matters, the researchers initially compared NFL players to Major League Baseball (MLB) players, finding no significant difference in suicide rates. Only after pooling MLB data with that of NBA players – a comparison group they hadn’t previously used – did they achieve statistical significance. This practice of adding groups to reach a desired outcome raises serious concerns about the study’s validity.
The Omission of Crucial Factors
Beyond the statistical manipulations, the study failed to account for critical factors known to contribute to suicide risk. Factors like imprisonment, financial distress, marital problems, and access to firearms – all disproportionately present among former NFL players – were largely ignored. The Department of Veterans Affairs has established a clear link between traumatic brain injury (common in NFL players) and increased suicide risk when combined with firearm access. Learn more about the VA’s research on firearms and suicide prevention.
The Bigger Picture: CTE as a Public Health Crisis
The focus on “awareness” as a potential driver of suicide distracts from the core issue: CTE is a devastating disease affecting a significant percentage of former NFL players. Studies have shown CTE in over 90% of studied brains, leading to dementia and a drastically reduced quality of life. Hundreds of former players have died from dementia in the last decade alone.
The NFLPA’s funding of a study that seemingly downplays the severity of CTE, and instead blames increased awareness, is deeply troubling. It raises questions about the organization’s priorities and its commitment to protecting the long-term health of its members.
Looking Ahead: Transparency, Research, and Real Solutions
The future of player safety hinges on transparency and a commitment to rigorous, unbiased research. We need better methods for diagnosing CTE before death, developing effective treatments, and providing comprehensive support for players and their families. Simply attempting to control the narrative won’t make the problem disappear.
The current situation demands a shift in focus. Instead of questioning why people are becoming aware of CTE, the NFL and NFLPA should invest in research that addresses the root causes of the disease and provides real solutions for those affected. Ignoring the problem, or worse, attempting to blame the victims, is not only unethical but ultimately unsustainable. What are your thoughts on the NFLPA’s role in CTE research? Share your perspective in the comments below!
