Neuropsychological findings in a sample of Operation Desert Storm veterans

Axelrod, Bradley N.; Milner, Ingrid

doi:10.1176/jnp.9.1.23

Cited by 32 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 11 publications

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“…Detailed review resulted in exclusions of 24 additional studies that had overlapping populations or no usable data. After all reviews were completed, a total of 14[14–21, 23–29] studies remained for inclusion in the meta-analysis (Fig 1). These studies were then divided into two groups.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…With numerous domains of cognitive function and a plethora of tests available to assess these domains, an extraction procedure was enforced to assure that data from each test were placed in the appropriate domain for analysis. Three members of the research team examined the list of tests administered in all studies[14–21, 23–29] included in the analysis and grouped them into the following domains (Table 2): visuospatial abilities, academic achievement, attention and executive function, learning and memory, and motor skills (Table 2). Data reported outside these domains (e.g.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Early on, researchers did not have a case definition for GWI, so comparisons were made between “symptomatic” and “non-symptomatic” deployed GWVs (defined in various ways)[14–18] or between deployed GWV (some of whom were ill and some of whom were not) and non-deployed era veterans[3, 18–22]. In other studies, GWV test performance was compared to normative populations[23–25]. A few studies examined neuropsychological performance among GWVs with specific chemical exposures in theater to those without such exposures[22, 26, 27].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Axelrod and colleagues[23] examined neuropsychological performance in 44 GWVs and compared their results to normative data, reporting significant reductions in GWV performance on two motor tasks and a measure of executive function. Goldstein and colleagues[24] examined 21 GWV and compared their neuropsychological performance to 38 nonveteran demographically matched controls.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neuropsychological characteristics of Gulf War illness: A meta-analysis

et al. 2017

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ObjectiveGulf War illness (GWI) is a disorder related to military service in the 1991 GW. Prominent symptoms include fatigue, pain and cognitive problems. These symptoms were reported by GW Veterans (GWV) immediately after the war and were eventually incorporated into case definitions of GWI. Neuropsychological function in GW veterans has been studied both among deployed GWV and in GWV diagnosed with GWI. Results have been inconsistent between and across GW populations. The purpose of the present investigation was to better characterize neuropsychological function in this veteran population.MethodsMeta-analysis techniques were applied to published studies on neuropsychological performance in GWV to identify domains of dysfunction in deployed vs. non-deployed GW-era veterans and symptomatic vs. non-symptomatic GWVs.ResultsSignificantly decreased performance was found in three functional domains: attention and executive function, visuospatial skills and learning/memory.ConclusionsThese findings document the cognitive decrements associated with GW service, validate current GWI case definitions using cognitive criteria, and identify test measures for use in GWI research assessing GWI treatment trial efficacy.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Neuropsychological characteristics of Gulf War illness: A meta-analysis

et al. 2017

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“…Several investigations published prior to 2009 concluded that visuospatial and motor skills were poorer and greater dysphoria was evident in deployed veterans with GWI compared to healthy GW veterans ( Anger et al, 1999 ; Axelrod & Milner, 1997 ; Binder et al, 1999 ; Bunegin, Mitzel, Miller, Gelineau, & Tolstykh, 2001 ; Lange, Van Niekerk, & Meyer, 2001 ; Storzbach et al, 2000 ; Storzbach, Rohlman, Anger, Binder, & Campbell, 2001 ; Sullivan et al, 2003 ). A subgroup of GW veterans who were markedly slower on psychomotor tasks was identified in one study, suggesting that there may be subgroups within the GWI population who are markedly impaired ( Anger et al, 1999 ; Storzbach et al, 2001 ).…”

Section: Neuropathology Of Gwimentioning

confidence: 99%

Recent research on Gulf War illness and other health problems in veterans of the 1991 Gulf War: Effects of toxicant exposures during deployment

White

Steele

O’Callaghan

et al. 2016

Cortex

361

398

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Veterans of Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield – the 1991 Gulf War (GW) – are a unique population who returned from theater with multiple health complaints and disorders. Studies in the U.S. and elsewhere have consistently concluded that approximately 25–32% of this population suffers from a disorder characterized by symptoms that vary somewhat among individuals and include fatigue, headaches, cognitive dysfunction, musculoskeletal pain, and respiratory, gastrointestinal and dermatologic complaints. Gulf War illness (GWI) is the term used to describe this disorder. In addition, brain cancer occurs at increased rates in subgroups of GW veterans, as do neuropsychological and brain imaging abnormalities.Chemical exposures have become the focus of etiologic GWI research because nervous system symptoms are prominent and many neurotoxicants were present in theater, including organophosphates (OPs), carbamates, and other pesticides; sarin/cyclosarin nerve agents, and pyridostigmine bromide (PB) medications used as prophylaxis against chemical warfare attacks. Psychiatric etiologies have been ruled out.This paper reviews the recent literature on the health of 1991 GW veterans, focusing particularly on the central nervous system and on effects of toxicant exposures. In addition, it emphasizes research published since 2008, following on an exhaustive review that was published in that year that summarizes the prior literature (RACGWI, 2008).We conclude that exposure to pesticides and/or to PB are causally associated with GWI and the neurological dysfunction in GW veterans. Exposure to sarin and cyclosarin and to oil well fire emissions are also associated with neurologically based health effects, though their contribution to development of the disorder known as GWI is less clear. Gene-environment interactions are likely to have contributed to development of GWI in deployed veterans. The health consequences of chemical exposures in the GW and other conflicts have been called “toxic wounds” by veterans. This type of injury requires further study and concentrated treatment research efforts that may also benefit other occupational groups with similar exposure-related illnesses.

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