The Prevalence of Alzheimers Disease Pathology After Traumatic Brain Injury in Veterans and Civilians: A Biomarker Study of Beta-Amyloid and Tau
Abstract
Background: Some old research studies have suggested that people with brain injuries maybe 400% more likely to lose their brain function due to a dementia called Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Modern studies have yet to be able to confirm a direct link. Two modern brain scans called Amyloid-PET and Tau-PET can now measure directly the plaques in the brain caused by AD. In addition another modern brain scan 7T-MRI can also measure other brain abnormalities like bleeding, loss of brain cells, and micro-strokes. Specific Aims: (1) Measure plaques in the brain caused by AD using these modern PET brain scans in Vietnam Veterans and car accident victims. (2) Measure other brain injuries using the modern 7T MRI scan in Vietnam Veterans and car accident victims. (3) Do psychological testing on these people with brain injury and compare them to the modern brain scan data. Study Design: We will use the latest generation of PET scans and 7T MRI scans to measure AD brain damage. We plan to study 150 elderly brain injured subjects from our existing database and 100 age-matched controls. In addition, psychological testing will be carried out such that the scan results can be tested for the correlation with their brain function. Relevance: This data would inform the need for future care of Veterans and identify those at high risk of AD who may benefit from early intervention trials. The data may also be used to improve selection of military personnel for active combat by identifying risk factors at enlistment for later life neurodegenerative disease. This has major implications for the health, future care of war Veterans, therapies, and risk management in the field for traumatic brain injury and recruiting.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 19, 2019
- Source ID
- W81XWH1910746
Entities
People
- Christopher C Rowe
Organizations
- United States Army
- University of Melbourne