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Concussion & CTE Foundation

Concussion & CTE Foundation

Non-profit Organizations

Boston, MA 9,639 followers

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About us

The Concussion & CTE Foundation was founded in 2007 by Chris Nowinski, Ph.D. and Dr. Robert Cantu in order to bring the concussion crisis into the public eye. Dr. Nowinski, a former WWE professional wrestler and Harvard football player, set a goal with Dr. Cantu to change how concussions were understood and handled in sports. Now in our 18th year, the Concussion & CTE Foundation is more dedicated than ever to solving the concussion crisis by advancing the study, treatment, and prevention of the effects of brain trauma in athletes, military veterans, and other at-risk groups. We work to achieve our mission through education and prevention programs, advocacy, policy development, and support of research at the UNITE Brain Bank. Created in 2008 as a partnership between the Concussion & CTE Foundation, Boston University, and the Department of Veterans Affairs, the UNITE Brain Bank conducts cutting-edge clinical and pathological research on the long-term effects of repetitive brain trauma, with a focus on the degenerative brain disease Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). The UNITE Brain Bank is the single greatest CTE research resource in the world, housing 70% of global CTE cases. Together, we are committed to creating a world without CTE, and concussion safety without compromise.

Website
http://www.ConcussionandCTE.org
Industry
Non-profit Organizations
Company size
11-50 employees
Headquarters
Boston, MA
Type
Nonprofit
Specialties
501(c)(3), non-profit organization, brain trauma, concussions, chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), BU CTE Center, CTE research, concussion education for adults, concussion consulting, and youth concussion education

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  • Concussion & CTE Foundation reposted this

    View profile for Christopher Nowinski, PhD
    Christopher Nowinski, PhD

    Today, a new study I co-authored alongside researchers at Mass General Brigham and Boston University, was released in The BMJ. The findings are deeply concerning: at least 1 in 4 former NFL players in our study had CTE at the time of death. 1 in 4. For comparison, the estimated prevalence of CTE in the general population is less than 1%. And even that 1-in-4 figure is only the minimum possible prevalence in this group. It assumes that the players whose brains were donated and confirmed to have CTE were the only players in the study who had it. At the other extreme, if every player who did not donate their brain also had CTE, the prevalence could have been as high as 97.7%. Neither extreme is likely to represent the true prevalence. The reality is almost certainly somewhere in between. That uncertainty is important. But so is the finding we can say with confidence: CTE was present in at least 25% of the former NFL players in this study who died between 2016-2021. These findings simply must be a wake up call for the NFL and scientific communities. We need to do more to prevent repetitive head impacts and dedicate our energy & resources towards developing a cure. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eQ_SHusg

  • Concussion & CTE Foundation reposted this

    View profile for Christopher Nowinski, PhD
    Christopher Nowinski, PhD

    By now, you may have heard the deeply concerning news. Earlier this week, the BMJ published a landmark study I worked on with Mass General Brigham and the BU CTE Center examining the brains of NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021. At least 25% of the players studied had CTE, and it's still statistically possible although unlikely, that 98% had it. The actual prevalence lies somewhere in between those numbers, and we're working to estimate that based on insights we've gained into registry bias that exists in all brain banks. My hope is not that these findings create fear, but that they drive change. This should be a wake-up call that we need to do much more to protect the brains of football players at every level. I’ve seen the devastation CTE can cause firsthand, from speaking with families whose loved ones were affected to watching former teammates and friends suffer from this disease. I’m committed to learning more about CTE, advancing research, and ultimately working toward a cure for the people and families whose lives have been impacted by it. We owe it to them to do better. We owe it to them to #EndCTE.

  • View organization page for Concussion & CTE Foundation
    Concussion & CTE Foundation

    9,639 followers

    In a new study from Mass General Brigham, Boston University (BU), and the Concussion & CTE Foundation, researchers found evidence that at least 1 in 4 former NFL players who died between 2016 and 2021 had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) at the time of their death, a much higher prevalence compared to the general population. “Community brain bank studies have shown that CTE affects less than 1% of the general population. To find that somewhere between 24.5% and 97.7% of NFL players from that time period had this progressive brain disease is a wake-up call for the NFL and scientific communities,” said lead and corresponding author Daniel Daneshvar, MD, PhD. The study does not show that 1 in 4 current NFL players have CTE. The findings do underscore CTE as a serious health concern among former NFL players. Researchers note future studies should examine younger generations of athletes, and prevention efforts should focus on reducing the repetitive head impacts that drive CTE risk, not just concussions. It's important to remember that many health issues can cause symptoms that look like neurodegenerative disease, and many of them are treatable. If you're looking for guidance, help finding a specialist, or support managing your health, reach out to our Concussion & CTE Foundation HelpLine team at https://lnkd.in/egP3CubN

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  • View organization page for Concussion & CTE Foundation
    Concussion & CTE Foundation

    9,639 followers

    Those interested in attending our webinar, "CTE: The Role of the Athletic Trainer in Education and Risk Reduction" can gain access for FREE at https://lnkd.in/eeGNFPWN. Simply create an account before registering for the course. Once logged in, enter the discount code "END-CTE" on the checkout page to register at no cost. We look forward to seeing you there!

    View profile for Christopher Nowinski, PhD
    Christopher Nowinski, PhD

    Athletic trainers are often the first line of defense when it comes to protecting athletes' health. Anyone who has played sports has benefited from their expertise. That's why we're excited to collaborate with the National Athletic Trainers' Association for a July 30 webinar: CTE: The Role of the Athletic Trainer in Education and Risk Reduction. I'll be joined by Concussion & CTE Foundation co-founder Dr. Robert Cantu and advisor Dr. Daniel Daneshvar, MD, PhD, Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Mass General Brigham and Harvard Medical School, to share the latest research on CTE and practical strategies for reducing risk. Athletic trainers helped transform how we recognize and manage concussions. By equipping them with the latest evidence on CTE and providing fact sheets they can share with coaches, athletes, and parents, we hope they can help drive the next wave of culture change and bring CTE prevention directly into schools and communities across the country. We're grateful for the opportunity to work together to advance education, prevention, and athlete safety. Register today at the link below and send this to an athletic trainer in your life! Attend the webinar at no cost by using code: END-CTE. First, create an account before registering for the course. Once logged in, enter the discount code on the checkout page. https://lnkd.in/ef7xF8jw

  • View organization page for Concussion & CTE Foundation
    Concussion & CTE Foundation

    9,639 followers

    Dr. Cade Carlson was a lifelong multi-sport athlete, a dedicated dentist, and a loving father of two young daughters. He passed away last year at just 38 years old and was later diagnosed with stage 2 CTE. In the wake of Cade's diagnosis, his family made the courageous decision to turn unimaginable loss into lasting impact. Through their openness, advocacy, and determination, they are raising awareness about CTE, encouraging important conversations around brain health, and offering hope to families facing similar challenges. Last month, they hosted the inaugural #CadesCause in Littleton, Colorado, bringing together their community to raise awareness about concussions and repetitive head impacts, support the research that makes diagnoses like Cade's possible, and connect families navigating similar experiences. More than 500 people registered to honor Dr. Cade Carlson and stand behind a future without CTE. Together, they raised more than $32,000 to advance research, education, and support for those impacted by brain injury and CTE. Thank you to everyone who helped make this incredible day possible. Together, we're creating a future with greater awareness, stronger support, and hope. 💙

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  • View organization page for Concussion & CTE Foundation
    Concussion & CTE Foundation

    9,639 followers

    "When Steve came home after games, he often had a big knot on his head." After his 9-year NFL career, Steve Smith was diagnosed with ALS at just 37 years old. He lived with the disease for nearly 20 years before his death in 2021 at age 57. After his passing, researchers at the Boston University CTE Center diagnosed him with stage 4 (of 4) CTE. In this powerful clip, Steve's wife Chie, shares a small glimpse into their life & what that diagnosis meant for their family. Her story comes as new research from Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation found former NFL players who die before age 50 are 42x more likely to die from ALS than men of the same age in the general population. The study also found former NFL players overall were 4.5x more likely to die from ALS than expected. https://lnkd.in/eDa9Nmep?

  • View organization page for Concussion & CTE Foundation
    Concussion & CTE Foundation

    9,639 followers

    ALS is rare. These findings aren't. Former NFL players who die before age 50 are 42 times more likely to die from ALS than men of the same age in the general population, according findings from the largest study ever conducted of mortality among NFL players. The study of nearly 20,000 former NFL players also found former NFL players overall are 4.5 times more likely to die from ALS than expected. The research was conducted by Mass General Brigham, Boston University, and the Concussion & CTE Foundation, and published last week in eClinicalMedicine, an open-access journal from The Lancet. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease that destroys the nerve cells controlling muscle movement. While ALS is uncommon in the general population, researchers say these findings provide the strongest evidence yet that former NFL players face a dramatically higher risk. Read more: https://lnkd.in/eMrKZati

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  • Concussion & CTE Foundation reposted this

    View profile for Christopher Nowinski, PhD
    Christopher Nowinski, PhD

    NFL players have 42x the risk of dying from ALS before age 50, according to a new study from Concussion & CTE Foundation, Mass General Brigham, Harvard, and the Boston University CTE Center that I coauthored and was published last week in eClinicalMedicine, an open-access journal from The Lancet. There is clearly a connection between repetitive head impacts, CTE, and ALS, and it affects more than just NFL players. Former college players are likely at elevated risk too, which doesn’t surprise me as two former players from my college football team, Harvard – Michael Vollmer ’90 and Mike Ernst ’83 – have both developed ALS. With only 33 NFL players – from 30 teams – dying of ALS between 1960-2019, having two from only college football programs is extremely unlikely unless it’s linked to playing football. Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive disease that destroys the nerve cells controlling muscle movement. While ALS is uncommon in the general population, researchers say these findings provide the strongest evidence yet that we need to explore head impacts in sports as a cause of ALS. https://lnkd.in/gxaFHBKB

  • Concussion & CTE Foundation reposted this

    View profile for Christopher Nowinski, PhD
    Christopher Nowinski, PhD

    In a new study I co-authored with researchers at Mass General Brigham and BU CTE Center, we found something deeply concerning. Former NFL players had lower overall mortality and were less likely to die from cancer or heart disease than the general population. But they were still about 4x more likely to die from brain diseases, including dementia and Parkinson's disease. The risk was even higher among players who died before age 60 and those with longer NFL careers. These findings add to the growing evidence linking repeated head impacts in football to long-term neurodegenerative disease. They also underscore the urgent need for prevention, earlier detection, and continued research to better protect athletes at every level. https://lnkd.in/gsyyPvwd

  • View organization page for Concussion & CTE Foundation
    Concussion & CTE Foundation

    9,639 followers

    The family of former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Marshawn Kneeland announced his stage 1 CTE diagnosis by researchers at Boston University CTE Center today. Kneeland played football at Western Michigan University before being selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round of the 2024 NFL Draft. He died during his second NFL season. He started playing tackle football when he was 7 years old. Kneeland’s family, including his girlfriend Catalina Mancera, said in part: "While this diagnosis does not change the tragedy of his passing, it provides important context about some of the struggles he may have been facing. We share this information to help people understand what NFL and other high contact sport athletes might be struggling with." We encourage anyone worried about suspected CTE symptoms to reach out to the Concussion & CTE Foundation HelpLine team for support at https://lnkd.in/egP3CubN. If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 by calling or texting 988. https://lnkd.in/ePc2Gjis

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