URMC Testing Link Between Soldier Brain Injuries And Alzheimer's - 13WHAM-TV

Rochester, N.Y. – The University of Rochester Medical Center is part of an investigation into whether U.S. service members who have suffered traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or both put soldiers at a greater risk for Alzheimer’s Disease.

Researchers are turning to Vietnam veterans for help.

“In order to predict what might happen, we wanted to look at a cohort that is about 40 years older to see what the brains of those individuals look like,” said Anton Porsteinsson, who is overseeing the study at URMC.

“Nobody paid much attention to this back in the Vietnam era, but do TBI and PTSD impact your risk of memory disease? Could this point toward additional studies into treatment and prevention of the long-term effects of these injuries?”

URMC was chosen as a clinical site because of its neuroimaging capabilities.

Also taking part in the study are Yale University, Columbia University, and the Mayo Clinic.

The $6.5 million study is funded by the U.S. Department of Defense.

For information on participating in the study, call 1-800-773-4883.

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