BU Study Reveals 34% Annual Increase in CTE Risk for Hockey Players

Dec 5, 2024, 03:08 AM

A recent study from the Boston University CTE Center has revealed a significant correlation between the duration of participation in ice hockey and the risk of developing chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). The research, which analyzed the brains of 77 ice hockey players, found that the odds of having CTE increased by 34% with each year played. Notably, 18 out of 19 NHL players studied showed signs of CTE. The study also highlighted that the risk of CTE in hockey players is higher than in football players, with a 34% annual increase compared to 30% in football. This finding challenges the perception that CTE is primarily a concern for enforcers in hockey, as the risk is linked to the cumulative years of play rather than specific roles on the ice.