PTSD

One project in TRACTS is looking at how experiences during childhood might influence how service members react to stress later in life. Studies have shown that people’s reactions to stress are in part due to how much stress and psychological trauma they were exposed to when they were children. Using questionnaires that measure stress during childhood and adolescence, we are hoping to see if and how this stress might affect the brain, the cardiovascular system, and performance on tests of attention and memory. This might help us create better tools to help service members cope with stress after deployment.

mTBI

People When people think of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI), or concussion, as being tied totheythink of someone getting “knocked out” or even just feeling briefly “fuzzy” after to a blow to thegetting hit in the head.  Inn factdeed, doctors generally use these very symptoms to diagnoseisa the presence of mild brain injuries like concussions. Researchers Researchers at the Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) at VA Boston Healthcare System (VA BHS) recently published new findings that research iscould changechallenging ethis point of viewthe idea that brain injury only occurs when it produces changes in thinking abilitythese symptoms at the time of the injury.  Specifically, they have been looking at the effects of being close to at least one explosion (like a roadside bomb) while in service. A team of researchers in the Translational Research Center for TBI and Stress Disorders (TRACTS) Their work has revealedfounddifferences changes in the way different parts of the brain talk to each othercommunicate in Veterans who were very close to one of these explosions compared to those who had never been so closebrains of Veterans who had been very close to at least oneblast explosions, such as those from improviseexplosion (like a roadside bomb) while in service. These changes were found in Veteransd explosive devices (IEDs) whether or not . However, the blast produced symptoms of concussion, these blasts did not have to be related to typical symptoms of concussion, like being knocked unconscious or feelings of fuzziness, in order to produce changes to the brain. In fact, . The important factor was only that the Veteran was within 10 meters (about 30 feet) of the explosion.

Veterans with concussions from the blasts looked the same as Veterans without, so long as they had been near enough to the blast. The blasts that produced the changes in the brain had to be very close, within 10 meters (about 30 feet, or the size of two parking spaces). Blasts that occurred further away did not have the same effectappear to result in these brain changes. However, they also found that explosions, even those further away, may alter the way the brain ages, with the brains of Veterans exposed to a blast appearing to age faster.  Although both of these effects of blasts can be seen across the entire group, more research is needed to determine how any one Veteran will be effected by their own blast exposure. Both of these effects were found using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), which is the brain scans that TRACTS participants take part in at the end of their day with the TRACTS lab.  These finding are very important for understanding the way the brain responds to experiences that Veterans encountered during their service.  However, more work is needed to understand what role (if any) these brain changes have on daily function and health of Veterans.  These are areas that TRACTS researchers are exploring now. 

Suicidality

Suicide is a significant concern for the U.S. Military and Veteran Administration, and understanding and trying to prevent suicide is a major priority. Drs. Melissa Amick and Beeta Homaifar have begun a new study through the TRACTS Center that is examining the relationship between suicidal thoughts and brain function, memory, attention, and problem solving strategies in OEF/OIF/OND Veterans. This research aims to learn more about those times when Veterans may be most at risk for suicide, and how to best prevent and reduce that risk. This study is funded by the Military Suicide Research Consortium, and collaborates with Investigators and suicide experts at the Denver VA.

Pain

...waiting for Megan...