
NFL widows struggled to care for former players with CTE. They say a new study minimizes their pain
Dozens of widows and other caregivers for former NFL players diagnosed with CTE say a published study is insulting and dismissive of their experience living with the degenerative brain disease. An open letter signed by the players’ wives, siblings and children says the study suggests their struggles caring for loved ones was due to “media hype” about chronic traumatic encephalopathy. They called that patronizing and offensive. CTE has been linked to concussions and other repeated head trauma. It can lead to memory loss, violent mood swings and depression. The study’s authors say there was no intent to minimize the disease or the caregivers’ struggles.