Brain Vulnerability to Repeated Blast Overpressure and Polytrauma

Abstract

It is likely that the mild TBI and cognitive impairments observed among many of the troops returning from OIF and OEF result from repeated exposures to blast overpressure. Although the clinical symptoms of concussion are typically transient, there is both a cumulative risk for persistent damage due to repeated concussions, and a post-concussion period of greatest vulnerability to a second impact. Specific risk assessments and guidelines should be established for exposure to blast overpressure. We are using a preclinical model of blast overpressure in rats to investigate the cumulative effects of multiple blast exposures on neurologic status, neurobehavioral function, and brain histopathological endpoints. Repeated exposures to blast overpressure with varied inter-blast intervals are used to characterize and define the temporal window of brain vulnerability to repeated blast overpressure. We anticipate that these data will provide a critical first step in establishing rational risk guidelines and developing mitigation strategies.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Nov 01, 2013
Accession Number
ADA602394

Entities

People

  • Joseph B. Long

Organizations

  • Geneva Foundation

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Blast Injuries
  • Brain
  • Brain Injuries
  • Chronic Encephalopathy
  • Cognitive Impairment
  • Concussion
  • Craniocerebral Trauma
  • Dynamic Pressure
  • Intervals
  • Medical Personnel
  • Overpressure
  • Pressure Transducers
  • Risk
  • Risk Analysis
  • Shock Tubes
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Vulnerability

Fields of Study

  • Medicine

Readers

  • Auditory Neuroscience/Auditory Physiology.
  • Explosive Engineering.
  • Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Cognitive Aging in the Guam and Border Populations Affected by Alzheimer's Disease and Tau-Associated Dementias.