Source: medicalxpress.com | Repoats Duerson Fund 4/24/2024 –
Repeated exposure to explosive blasts has the potential to cause brain injuries, but there is currently no diagnostic test for these injuries. In a study of 30 active-duty United States SOF personnel, researchers found that increased blast exposure was associated with structural, functional, and neuroimmune changes to the brain and a decline in health-related quality of life. The researchers are now designing a larger study to develop a diagnostic test for repeated blast brain injury.
United States (US) Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel are frequently exposed to explosive blasts during training and combat. However, the effects of repeated blast exposure on the brain health of SOF personnel are unclear, and there is currently no diagnostic test that can detect brain injury caused by the cumulative effects of subconcussive blast exposure.
As a result, SOF personnel may experience cognitive, psychological and physical symptoms for which the cause is never identified, and they may return to training or combat when their brains are vulnerable.