Exposure to Blasts in War and Training May Increase Risk of Alzheimer s in Troops, Study Finds
U.S. Marines fire a MK-153 Shoulder-Launched Multipurpose Assault Weapon in a live-fire squad attack range during exercise Fuji Viper 21.1 at Combined Arms Training Center, Camp Fuji, Japan, on Dec. 10, 2020. (U.S. Marine Corps/Lance Cpl. Ujian Gosun)
4 Mar 2021
A new study of rat brains exposed to military-grade blasts indicates that troops subjected to explosive shockwaves may be at higher risk for developing Alzheimer s disease, including service members who show no symptoms of concussion or brain injury after a blast.
The Army Research Laboratory, U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command, University of North Carolina at Pembroke and National Institutes of Health collaborated on the research, which showed that exposure to blasts alters the connections between neurons of the hippocampus at the molecular level.
Bomb blast exposure may raise risk of Alzheimer s, Army-funded research finds legion.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from legion.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
By J.P. LAWRENCE | STARS AND STRIPES Published: March 2, 2021 Troops exposed to shockwaves from bomb blasts may be at higher risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease and other neurological issues, even if they haven’t suffered a traumatic brain injury, recent Army-funded research suggests. Researchers at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke found that even small explosions ones unlikely to cause concussions or injuries change the molecular structure of the brain, a study published last week in the journal Brain Pathology found. “This finding may explain those many blast-exposed individuals returning from war zones with no detectable brain injury, but who still suffer from persistent neurological symptoms, including depression, headaches, irritability and memory problems,” Ben Bahr, professor of molecular biology and biochemistry at UNC-Pembroke, said in an Army statement.
Soldiers who are exposed to explosions on the battlefield are at increased risk of developing Alzheimer s, scientists have found.
Shockwaves from blasts can damage the connections between neurons and the hippocampus, the region of the brain responsible for memory and social function.
People in close proximity to bombs can suffer brain damage but researchers say the new finding indicates people who appear unaffected may have sustained injuries which increase the risk of neurological impairment in later life.
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People in close proximity to bomb detonation can suffer brain damage but researchers say the new finding indicates people who appear unaffected can also develop neurological impairment
Soldiers exposed to explosions face higher risk of Alzheimer s msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.