Scientists: Brain injuries from war worse than thought

[rodeodance]

Source: usaToday



http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-09-23-traumatic-brain-injuries_N.htm?csp=1

Scientists: Brain injuries from war worse than thought

By Gregg Zoroya, USA TODAY

Scientists trying to understand traumatic brain injury from bomb blasts are finding the wound more insidious than they once thought.

They find that even when there are no outward signs of injury from the blast, cells deep within the brain can be altered, their metabolism changed, causing them to die, says Geoff Ling, an advance-research scientist with the Pentagon.

The new findings are the result of blast experiments in recent years on animals, followed by microscopic examination of brain tissue. The findings could mean that the number of brain-injured soldiers and Marines — many of whom appear unhurt after exposure to a blast — may be far greater than reported, says Ibolja Cernak, a scientist with the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory.

TROOPS AT RISK: USA TODAY'S full coverage on IEDs in Iraq

This cellular death leads to symptoms that may not surface for months or years, Cernak says. The symptoms can include memory deficit, headaches, vertigo, anxiety and apathy or lethargy. "These soldiers could have hidden injuries with long-term consequences," he says......

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/iraq/2007-09-23-traumatic-brain-injuries_N.htm?csp=1

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very good article.

[Gman]

1. and they may never get VA benefits because

if there's no injury, there's no documentation that the explosion happened, possibly even if someone else was injured.

It's a scenario not unlike Gulf I vets did with Gulf War Syndrome and no evidence of injury or of Vietnam vets did with Agent Orange. At least it will be on a much smaller scale.

[rodeodance]

5. A soldier got demoted, written up cause suspodedly she was not following

orders----only to find out a year later she was experincing brain injury (she was standing next to bomb-no physical injures at the time and went back to duty). This was about a year ago, some tv special. Lots of examples of this show.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Sounds like

permanent concussion.

[postulater]

3. Makes you wonder about WWII vets

who developed Alzheimer's symptoms. How many of them are really old war injuries?

[Javaman]

4. Interesting point...

I wonder if when the concussion occurs during a horrific situation, does that permanently alter the brain so as that horrific situation is "burned into memory"? Sort of like amplifying it?

[bemildred]

6. Yeah, yeah, who knew brain damage could be so serious? nt

[Barrett808]

7. We will be paying for Bush's Folly for decades... n/t

[lonestarnot]

8. Yeah remember the General that got cut short when he broached the subject of traumatic brain injury

three weeks ago?

[emlev]

10. No. Do you have a link for this? n/t

[lonestarnot]

11. He was on just before the bushitler started whoop'n and lyin' it up in Iraq.

I think I was watching CNN. :shrug: He was talking to the local GIs

[emlev]

12. ok

[DeepModem Mom]

9. K&R