Neuroimaging detects blast exposure brain injuries in U.S. soldiers

A battery of MRI and PET neuroimaging tests show patterns of brain injury in active-duty U.S. soldiers caused by repeated blast exposures, according to a study published April 22 in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The findings may guide the design of a new diagnostic test for personnel exposed to blasts in training and combat, noted lead author Natalie Gilmore, PhD, of Harvard Medical School in Boston, and colleagues. “[Special Operations Forces] personnel may experience cognitive, physical, and psychological symptoms for which the cause is never identified, and they may continue to be exposed to blasts in training or combat during a period of brain vulnerability,” the group wrote. Currently, there is no diagnostic protocol for detecting brain injury caused by repeated blast exposure, the authors explained. Early detection of these injuries has the potential to enhance the combat readiness of soldiers, their career longevity, and quality of life, they noted. To advance these efforts, the researchers enrolled 30 active-duty male U.S. Special Operations Forces personnel in the study. The soldiers served in Operations Enduring Freedom, Iraqi Freedom, New Dawn, and Inherent Resolve and all had at least a decade of military service with extensive exposure to explosive blasts. The researchers used advanced neuroimaging methods – structural and diffusion MRI, 7-tesla functional MRI, and hybrid PET/MRI scans – as well as measures of cognitive performance...
Source: AuntMinnie.com Headlines - Category: Radiology Authors: Tags: Molecular Imaging Source Type: news