Scientists at the University of Missouri at Columbia have found that military personnel exposed to the bombings can develop an abnormal buildup of beta-amyloid in the brain associated with Alzheimer’s disease. The research was published in the journal Radiology.
Some forms of beta-amyloid can accumulate in the brain as aggregates. It is believed that this can lead to cognitive decline, up to the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Research over the past few decades suggests that there may be an association between recurrent or severe traumatic brain injury and abnormal beta-amyloid deposition.
Head injuries can be the result of shock waves from explosions on the battlefield. In a new study from January 2020 to December 2021, the military base accommodated nine military personnel who had previously been exposed to battlefield blasts. Nine other civilians were included in the study as healthy controls. All participants were healthy young men and had no history of concussion.
All participants underwent a head PET scan to assess and measure amyloid changes. Abnormal amyloid deposition was observed in six of the nine military participants. None of the healthy participants in the control group showed abnormal amyloid deposition.
“More work is needed to establish the relationship between the frequency and severity of traumatic brain injury and the degree of amyloid changes in the brain,” the scientists said.
Source: Gazeta
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