Brain circuits dissolved in unique Gulf War syndrome

When he returned from service in the Gulf War in 1991, the U.S. Air Force Nurse Denise Nichols sudden pain, fatigue and cognitive problems experienced, but have no idea what the cause was. He grew worse: multiplication tables with help from her daughter became difficult, she says, and finally she gave up her job.


Nichols was not alone. Maybe as many as 250,000 to everything - a similar set of symptoms in Gulf War veterans returned with about a third.

To an imaging survey found that veterans have unique structural changes in their brain wiring is shown. The scientific consensus is that the Gulf War (GWS) syndrome is a psychosomatic condition with a perfectly fit body is, and counseling should instead be treated with painkilling drugs.

Different countries in the past has consistently denied that it is based on physical GWS. Although the U.S. veterans affairs department (VA) is now officially accepts that physical disorder, a problem that has been mired in controversy.

Earlier this month, Steven Coughlin, VA, a former senior epidemiologist, testified to a congressional panel that the VA was suppressed and manipulated research data suggest that the disorder was psychosomatic.



In response, VA, said the organization accepted international standards and rigorous scientific research study on quality to meet long history is ". They also noted that" all allegations of crime are taken seriously and are fully investigated and that.

I still tried to

Bernard Rosof GWS Huntington Hospital in New York Whatever the reason, it certainly is not psychological, that, although no known reason. Suggested causes effects when exposure to low levels of sarin gas chemical munitions were destroyed, and a drug called pyridostigmine bromide, sarin from the military as they are added.



To achieve this goal, Baraniuk and colleagues with Rakib Rayhan GWS veterans, including 31 Nichols, checked. He called diffusion tensor imaging of the brain using technology, including nerves, or highlights on bundles of white matter, brain regions associated with the scan. He compared these 20 veterans who were not deployed to the Gulf is run.

Photos shows the GWS trouble making the connection may be broken nerve bundle: a phenomenon that has not been associated with any other disease. This shows that brain circuitry, rather, people with the condition of a specific brain area is affected. Veterans with symptoms worsening white matter of the court, the most obvious abnormalities.

Easily distracted

Fibers damaged areas of the brain responsible for pain centers on the interpretation of the Court nerve pain associated registers. Another area is the ventral attention network, which people break their concentration to respond to a stimulus allows. The victims' veterans will easily engage with problems with orientation and memory formation as a whole is fit.


Because the study was to reduce the number of people Baraniuk, it is not yet possible between the affected brain and a normal brain is to draw a clear difference. Characterized by chronic widespread pain - both of which GWS with chronic fatigue syndrome or fibromyalgia symptoms with that of another similar scans to look at.

But he said the team dissected brain tissue of deceased veterans to better understand the scans will have to check.

Results of a particular cause or disorder is not indicated for the procedure. However, such scans in the future help doctors and people with similar symptoms can be distinguished from others with the syndrome. This is to ensure that long-term pain management psychiatry can use instead.

The Dennis Nichols, who believe that VA has experienced problems with people like you avoided addressing is good news for such people. "We need help, and we hope these researchers is clear."

"We check and improve treatment methods, processes claims, and for veterans will continue to learn better idea," VA add.