Welcome to the first CTE Society Research & Media Alerts. Each month we read the news and research on chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) and pick out what matters most for families, athletes and veterans, with links to the original sources. This first issue covers September and October 2026.
Promising research
- Diagnosing CTE in living people is getting closer, but it isn’t here yet. Teams at Boston University, UCLA, Cleveland Clinic and the University of Toronto are testing brain-scan tracers and blood markers in clinical studies. None is available to patients; CTE can still be confirmed only after death. The New York Times, Sept. 22
- A clinical trial for former football players is recruiting. Emory University and the Concussion & CTE Foundation are running a small Phase 2 trial of an approved anti-inflammatory drug in former players with depression or memory symptoms. It is an early test, not a proven treatment. Concussion & CTE Foundation, Sept. 17 · Being Patient, Oct. 13
Beyond football
- CTE found in 31 former rugby league players. An Australian brain bank study adds to evidence that repeated head impacts in many sports, not only American football, are linked to CTE. Associated Press, Sept. 9
Families, caregiving & legal rights
- NFL settlement testing may miss decline in players with advanced CTE. A study in JAMA compared settlement test results with brain-bank findings after death. Medical Xpress, Sept. 5
Youth sports & prevention
- Is football too dangerous for kids’ brains? A look at what scientists are learning about youth football and brain health. Scientific American, Sept. 23
In case you missed it
- At least 1 in 4 former NFL players who died in 2016–21 had CTE. The broadest study yet looked at all 1,712 former NFL players who died between 2008 and 2021. Of the 338 whose brains were donated, 93% had CTE. Because donated brains aren’t a random sample, researchers estimate a range, with at least 1 in 4 affected. The BMJ, Aug. 25
More research, organized by topic, is on our Research page. Know someone who would find this useful? Forward this email; they can sign up on our site.
Research news is not medical advice; talk with a doctor about your own situation. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, U.S.).
