New research coming for Gulf War vets

July 28, 2010 posted by Michael Leon · Leave a Comment

Gulf War Vets

By Stacey R. Hopwood

According to a recent Department of Veterans Affairs news release, $2.8 million has been approved to fund three new research projects that focus on testing or developing new treatments for illnesses affecting veterans who served in the Gulf War 1990-91. The research incorporates recommendations from the Gulf War Veterans’ Illnesses Task Force.

“Reaching out to Gulf War veterans is essential to the transformation of VA,” said VA Chief of Staff John R. Gingrich. “This research is a great opportunity to do something that will improve the care and services these veterans have earned.”About 697,000 men and women served in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm from August 1990 to June 1991. In the years since they returned, nearly a quarter of these veterans have experienced chronic symptoms such as fatigue, weakness, gastrointestinal problems, cognitive dysfunction, sleep disturbances, persistent headaches, skin rashes, respiratory conditions and mood changes.

A recent report by the Institute of Medicine’s Committee on Gulf War and Health, “Health Effects of Serving in the Gulf War,” noted that chronic multi-symptom illnesses affect an estimated 250,000 Gulf War veterans. Given the findings, VA is embarking on a national research program to identify and adopt the most effective treatments for veterans.

Please note these studies are limited to treatment, and are not related to disability claims connected to service in Desert Shield and Desert Storm. The studies are expected to take between two to five years to complete, and include:

A five-year study to evaluate the impact of resistance exercise training (RET) in treating chronic musculoskeletal pain and associated symptoms in Gulf War veterans. The study will evaluate the influence of RET on total physical activity, pain sensitivity and regulation, and brain white-matter tracts. This study will be conducted at the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, Wisc.

A four-year study on an animal model of Gulf War illnesses to assess the effectiveness of therapies to enhance mood and memory. The therapies are designed to increase generation of nerve cells in the hippocampus, improving cognitive function and reversing depressive and anxiety-like behaviors. One strategy will test treatment with anti-depressant medicine and a drug or dietary supplement having antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. The second strategy will test use of either an antidepressant or an antioxidant/anti-inflammatory agent, combined with exercise. This study will be conducted at the Durham, North Carolina VA Medical Center.

A two-year pilot study that will include randomized, controlled, eight-week trials of an intervention known as “mindfulness-based stress reduction,” compared with usual care. Assessments of veterans will include symptom-based measures of pain, fatigue, and cognitive and physical function as well as objective measures of attention, concentration and memory. This study will be conducted at the VA Puget Sound Health Care System, Seattle, Wash.

The IOM report noted that the illnesses seen in Gulf War veterans cannot be attributed to any psychiatric disorder and likely result from genetic and environmental factors, although they cannot draw firm conclusions about specific causes at this time.