02/04/2026
A new study led by our global brain bank partners found that the brain disease chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is rare in the general population.
Researchers examined more than 1,100 brains from a large, diverse, population-based autopsy cohort at the Biobank for Aging Studies at the University of São Paulo in Brazil. The team identified CTE pathology in just seven cases, approximately 0.6% of the population. Six of the seven were male, consistent with other studies and data showing that historically, men are far more likely to be exposed to RHI through contact and collision sports.
The results add important clarity to public understanding of CTE and reinforces decades of research showing that CTE is primarily associated with repetitive head impacts (RHI), not everyday life. The study represents the most demographically diverse populations ever studied for CTE.
Our CEO , who co-authored the study, says while it’s important to confirm CTE is rare in the general population, the prevalence is concerning, especially for a preventable disease. 👉 “This study would suggest around 1.5 million Americans have CTE. That would make it among the most common neurodegenerative brain diseases in the country.”
