- NFL players play professional American football every week.
- A very large study looked at many former players.
- Researchers found more deaths in players than other people.
- Brain diseases mean memory loss and movement problems often.
- Players with long careers had a higher risk.
- Some playing positions showed a higher dementia risk.
- Players had fewer deaths from heart disease and cancer.
- Scientists think repeated hits to the head matter.
- More research will study ways to protect players.
Difficult words
- dementia — a brain illness that causes memory loss
- researcher — a person who studies facts to learnResearchers
- risk — the chance something bad may happen
- repeat — to happen again one or more timesrepeated
- protect — to keep someone safe from harm
- career — the work a person does for many yearscareers
Tip: hover, focus or tap highlighted words in the article to see quick definitions while you read or listen.
Discussion questions
- Do you watch American football?
- Have you ever played a contact sport?
- Should players wear helmets to be safe?
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