What question did this study set out to answer?

To assess the impact of American football participation on cognitive and neuropsychiatric function in men aged 40 and older.

March 1, 2026JAMA Network OpenOpen Access

Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric Function in Former American Football Players

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Key result

American football participation links to worse later-life cognitive and neuropsychiatric function, worsening with years played.

Why the study?

Does American football participation worsen later-life cognitive and neuropsychiatric function in men 40 years or older?

Population

Former American football players

Comparison

Prior American football participation across years and level of play

Design

Cross-sectional study

Authors

AAAnna AaronsonBoston University GBGrace H BadlamBoston University SMShania C. MulayiBoston University

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

May warrant cognitive screening in former players; hypothesis-generating and should not yet change practice.

Key Points

To assess the impact of American football participation on cognitive and neuropsychiatric function in men aged 40 and older.
Cross-sectional design using data from the Head Impact & Trauma Surveillance Study (HITSS)
Comparison of cognitive and neuropsychiatric scores between football players and matched controls
Multivariable statistical analyses including linear and logistic regression models
Football players scored worse on cognitive tests compared to controls, indicating impaired cognitive function
Higher years of football participation correlated with increased subjective cognitive concerns and depressive symptoms
Professional players had lower scores in cognitive and neuropsychiatric measures compared to those with less experience.

Structured PICO

Does American football participation worsen later-life cognitive and neuropsychiatric function in men 40 years or older?

Population

3970 male former American football players aged 40 years or older enrolled in the Head Impact & Trauma Surveillance Study (HITSS), with a subanalysis of 943 participants (661 players and 282 controls).

Intervention

Repetitive head impacts (RHI) from American football participation (assessed by years of play, highest level of play, position, and age of first exposure)

Comparator

Brain Health Registry controls without repetitive head impacts

Outcome

Performance on computerized cognitive tests (PALFAMS and PALTEA), subjective cognitive concerns (ECog), and depressive symptoms (GDS-15)patient reported

Prior American football participation is associated with worse later-life cognitive and neuropsychiatric function, with a dose-response relationship based on years and level of play.

Cite This Study

Aaronson et al. (2026) studied this question. Prior American football participation was associated with worse later-life cognitive and neuropsychiatric function, demonstrating a dose-response relationship with years and level of play.

synapsesocial.com/papers/69a3d867ec16d51705d2f425 https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.60077

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Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric Function in Former American Football Players

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Cognitive and Neuropsychiatric Function in Former American Football Players

Discussion

Member takes

Implication

Key Points

Structured PICO

Cite This Study

Also Consider

Also Consider