30 Former NFL Players Are Donating Their Brains for CTE Research

Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy, known more commonly as CTE, is a degenerative brain disease commonly found in individuals who have suffered repetitive blows to the head. CTE is most often present in boxers, military veterans and—perhaps most famously—NFL athletes.

To help further understand the causes of CTE and other trauma-based brain conditions, as well as how these diseases could be treated, 30 former NFL players have pledged their brains to be used for research after their death. The announcement comes at a time when an estimated 40 percent of ex-players suffer from brain injuries, according to the American Academy of Neurology.

As a sport heavily so rooted in physical contact, professional football has long had a problem with concussions and other head injuries—a problem that is still highly prevalent despite a number of rule changes meant to decrease the occurrence head-to-head collisions. Because of this, some of the NFL’s most famous athletes were found to have suffered from CTE, including Hall of Famers Frank Gilford, Mike Webster and Junior Seau.

The nature of CTE diagnosis makes these donations especially important, as it is impossible to definitively determine if someone suffered from the disease without performing an autopsy.