For American soldiers Shane Garcie and Tommy Shoemaker, the war is over but the battle has just begun. Garcie and Shoemaker have had problems with mood and memory since returning from military tours in Iraq, according to an article from CNN.
The news service recently reported that both veterans have been suffering from a form of brain trauma known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
Boston Universitys website describes CTE as a degenerative brain disease that occurs in people who have suffered repeat brain trauma such as multiple concussions.
Soldiers serving in Iraq and Afghanistan often get concussions from bombs known as improvised explosive devices (IEDs), as the site, BrainLineMilitary.org, notes.
But it can take multiple concussions to produce the symptoms associated with CTE. In a study from 2009, scientists found that 17 percent of individuals who experience multiple concussions develop this neurological disease.
The disease can be difficult to confirm, though. The diagnosis of CTE is tough to make clinically, Benjamin Wedro, MD, said in an article on MedicineNet.com.
The doctor added that the related brain abnormalities dont appear on an X-ray but instead manifest as a buildup of the tau protein in the brain.
Last year, Boston University scientists published a study showing that this protein accumulates in different parts of the brain in people who have CTE and progressively tangles neurological fibers, damaging the brain.
The three scientists Thor D. Stein, Victor E. Alvarez, and Ann C. McKee noted in the study that the resulting damage is associated with the development of diseases such as Alzheimer disease.
Stein, Alvarez, and McKee concluded that future therapies should focus on how the damaging protein from CTE can spread through the nervous system.
However, there may now be new hope for veterans suffering from the CTE. This week, CNN.com reported that there might soon be a way to diagnose the disease more effectively.
According to the news website, researchers from UCLA conducted a study using an injectable radioactive substance that binds to the tau protein.
The tracer latches on to a brain protein called tau and lights up areas of the brain that are affected, CNN wrote.
Despite the fact that diagnostic tests for CTE are still in development, it may still be possible for American war veterans to get disability benefits from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA)
In December 2013, the VA expanded benefits for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury. The government agency issued a statement saying that veterans with secondary illnesses such as Parkinsons disease, some forms of dementia, depression, and certain seizures or glandular diseases could qualify for disability pay.
Help for Veterans Suffering from Brain Injuries
At Vets National Advocates, we understand that some wounds arent always visible. Traumatic brain injury has become more frequent among soldiers returning from military service in Iraq and Afghanistan.
In both countries, it has become common for American troops to encounter roadside bombs known as IEDs (Improvised Explosive Devices). IED bomb blasts can damage the brain, causing physical and psychological problems.
This form of damage is referred to as traumatic brain injury (TBI). If youre suffering from TBI, you may be eligible for disability benefits from the VA.
Vets National Advocates can help you fight for those benefits.
Call (877)777-4021 to talk to our disability advocates. Or, fill out our online form.
