Q&A with Brain Health Experts & Veterans on TBI, PTSD, CTE, brain donation, and brain health tips. What are your questions?

2020-10-07T13:12:57-04:00

Dr. Ann McKee, Chief of Neuropathology at the VA Boston Healthcare system, will be joined by brain health experts and Veterans on Thursday, October 22 at 4PM ET to answer questions from Veterans on TBI, PTSD, CTE, brain donation research, and Veteran brain health. You can ask questions to the following people:

Ann McKee, MD - Chief of Neuropathology, VA Boston Healthcare System
Chris Nowinski, PhD - Co-founder & CEO, Concussion Legacy Foundation - Retired WWE Superstar who retired from his wrestling career due to concussions
The Honorable CPT Matt Collier - President & CEO, VetAccel Inc. (VAI), Former Senior Advisor to Secretary of the VA
Nicole Condrey - Mayor, Middleton, Ohio - Former Civilian Engineer, U.S. Army - Lost her husband Navy Special Warfare Veteran Ron Condrey to suicide in September 2018 after a battle with PTSD, and donated his brain for research at the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank
COL Sidney Hinds II, MD - Colonel (Ret.) U.S. Army, Former Brain Health Coordinator at the Department of Defense Blast Injury Research Coordinating Office (BIRCO)
LT Jason Redman - Lieutenant (Ret.) U.S. Navy – Navy SEAL - Veteran Advocate - Severely wounded by machine gun fire outside Fallujah, Iraq in 2007
Will Reynolds - Former Captain, U.S. Army - Veteran Advocate - Severely wounded by an IED while serving in southwest Baghdad, Iraq in 2004
MAJ Rebecca Van Horn, MD, MA - Medical Director, The Road Home Program at Rush University, which provides mental health care and wellness to Veterans and their families
CPT William Reynolds, President at SERVE Advisory Group

About Dr. Ann McKee and the research at the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank
Dr. Ann McKee is Chief of Neuropathology, VA Boston Healthcare System, Director of the BU CTE Center, and Director of the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank. McKee’s research focuses on the long-term effects of concussion, subconcussion and blast injury in contact sports athletes and military veterans, including Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). Her paradigm-shifting work has demonstrated that “mild” head trauma, particularly repetitive mild head trauma, is not just an acute injury - it can provoke a persistent and progressive neurodegeneration, CTE, that continues long after the traumatic exposure. Dr. McKee co-founded the Veterans Affairs-Boston University-Concussion Legacy Foundation (VA-BU- CLF) Brain Bank, which has revolutionized our understanding of TBI and CTE. The Brain Bank published the first military case series on CTE and houses 70% of the world’s CTE cases. In 2018, Dr. McKee was
named one of TIME’s 100 most influential people in the world, elected to the National Academy of Medicine, and named Bostonian of the Year by the Boston Globe.

About CLF Project Enlist
The experts and Veterans answering your questions are all members of the Concussion Legacy Foundation Veteran Advisory Board, which supports and advances CLF Project Enlist, powered in part by Wounded Warrior Project. The mission of CLF Project Enlist is to significantly accelerate research on military Veterans with TBI, CTE and PTSD by increasing the number of Veteran brains donated to brain banks for study. Our vision is that Project Enlist will create a culture of brain donation within the military community, while also providing a service to Veterans through positive brain health messaging.
To learn more about CLF Project Enlist and pledge to donate your brain, visit
https://concussionfoundation.org/programs/project-enlist

About the Concussion Legacy Foundation
The Concussion Legacy Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. It was founded by Robert Cantu, MD, and Chris Nowinski, PhD to support athletes, Veterans, and all affected by concussions and CTE; achieve smarter sports and safer athletes through education and innovation; and to End CTE
through prevention and research. CLF is a collaborator with the Boston University Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE) Center and the Boston VA Healthcare System on the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank. CLF leads outreach, recruiting, and educational efforts for the Brain Bank.
For more information, visit ConcussionFoundation.org.

Struggling with the effects of brain trauma? Contact the CLF HelpLine, which provides personalized help
to Veterans struggling with the outcomes of brain injury: https://concussionfoundation.org/helpline

Project Enlist

The goal of Project Enlist is to dramatically accelerate critical research on traumatic brain injury (TBI), chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) in military veterans. TBI due to improvised explosive devices (IED) and other military service-related causes is a significant problem for our active military and veteran community. However, the scientific understanding of TBI and related disorders, such as...

Response by Maj Kim Patterson made Oct 7 at 2020 1:48 PM

2020-10-07T13:48:19-04:00

How to let people know that even though I “look” fine, I’ve suffered multiple TBIs is a topic I’d like to see addressed.

Response by PVT Mark Zehner made Oct 7 at 2020 2:21 PM

2020-10-07T14:21:44-04:00

Thank you for the information!

Response by SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth made Oct 8 at 2020 9:48 AM

2020-10-08T09:48:11-04:00

Thank you for the health share.

Response by Lt Col Charlie Brown made Oct 8 at 2020 10:50 AM

2020-10-08T10:50:45-04:00

How do we educate the public who don't understand the difference between PTSD, TBI, and CTE and that none of that means the veteran is crazy?

Response by SPC Margaret Higgins made Oct 8 at 2020 12:30 PM

2020-10-08T12:30:20-04:00

@ The Concussion Legacy Foundation: I have responded in kind before, the phone number for The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline, is the following: [login to see] .
Please, kindly, press the Number One (1) for: Active Duty Troops; and, for Veterans.

Response by PO3 Patricia Miner made Oct 9 at 2020 3:30 AM

2020-10-09T03:30:18-04:00

I was exposed to chlordane, arsenic and lead at my first duty station. It was used as bug spray. Chlordane is a nerve agent. My brain no longer functions properly, I have seizures, neuropathy from head to toe, I'm blind in an eye, have Meneire's disease, etc. I can get no information from the VA about this. I've been totally disabled since 1991 but went undiagnosed until social worker found an EPA Superfund Site report about this base in 2019. I was never informed by the military they had exposed us to these chemicals. How do I get information out of them? The cover up continues.

Response by Wayne Soares made Oct 10 at 2020 5:05 PM

2020-10-10T17:05:50-04:00

Thanks for the great health share

Response by Nicole Thomas made Oct 12 at 2020 1:03 AM

2020-10-12T01:03:01-04:00

What exactly is Post Concussive Syndrome?

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2020 4:36 PM

2020-10-13T16:36:48-04:00

Definitely a much needed topic of discussion.

Response by PO1 Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 13 at 2020 11:09 PM

2020-10-13T23:09:51-04:00

Went to a conference a couple of years ago in San Diego. It was presented really well. Dr. Bennet Omalu the forensic Doctor who actually discovered CTE was there and spoke. Navy SEAL Foundation is who sponsored the event. Always a great showing when they are backing it.

Response by LT Jason Redman made Oct 19 at 2020 1:46 PM

2020-10-19T13:46:12-04:00

Look forward to joining this incredibly important discussion.

Response by PO2 Seth Maier made Oct 21 at 2020 7:12 PM

2020-10-21T19:12:13-04:00

There doesn't seem to be any visible progress on dual diagnosis of PTSD and TBI. VA appears to still award EITHER TBI or PTSD, but not both. One may receive a significant SCD% for PTSD to be told by their VSO to not pursue the TBI b/c it will likely lower their overall SCD%, as they'll likely award the TBI at a lower rate and drop the PTSD altogether. For those who've survived head injury (for some multiple concussive injuries - and doesn't have to IED related) and diagnosed PTSD (could be from the same event, but separate also) - to only be recognized for one over the other b/c the symptoms are the same (headaches, irritability, double vision, dissociation, etc) whether PTSD or TBI. It's scary for those w/ TBI's who VA only recognizes PTSD - our rate of later being diagnosed w/ dementia, ALS, etc. are way higher and the likely hood of contracting goes significantly up w/ only a single TBI - let alone exposure to multiple brain injuries (IED, fights, MVA's, falls, concussive waves from mortar, loss of cabin pressure in aircraft, etc.) over the course of a military career - whether 3yrs or 30yrs. If the Vet is not SCD for the brain injury and they later are diagnosed with Alzheimer's - it won't be covered medically - and if they ultimately die of that disease, it will not be recognized as a service related death - impacting the surviving families and benefits they'd otherwise be eligible for. Dr. Rhonda Patrick (JRE podcasts #459, 502, 568, 1178) and Dr. Mark Gordon (JRE podcasts #438, 574, 700, 1056), both have unique insights on TBI, but I never hear from the VA anything that they are talking about - like hormonal dysfunction generated from injury (tbimedlegal.com), genetic risk factors exacerbated by brain injury (APOE4/Amyloid beta plaques - foundmyfitness.com). If one can afford the cost and ability to travel to Panama, one can receive stem-cell injections to treat brain injury (and many other service connected injuries) from U.S.A. doctors who are protected in Pananama that would have their license at risk in the U.S. for the same treatments with exceptional recovery results after only a single treatment. I've engaged with Marcus Institute of Brain Health (literally right next door to a VAMC!!!) - those experts are aware of all of these things I just described, but why not the VA? Nearly 20 years later, the VA response still has a lingering smell of the same ole'-same ole' VA - where my DDay Normandy Beach landing grandfather described "The VA - that's where you go to die." I expect and demand better from my VA than the VA that failed our earlier generations!

Response by SP5 Bill Grossman made Oct 21 at 2020 11:22 PM

2020-10-21T23:22:45-04:00

Has the FDA approved any drug to cure Peripheral neuropathy, rather than just treating symptoms?

Response by CDR Teresa McFarland made Oct 22 at 2020 12:33 AM

2020-10-22T00:33:15-04:00

My Veteran mother and I have both registered with CLF to donate our brains. Is there some kind of Information card that has the donation instructions for health care providers we can carry or use to inform others when necessary?

Response by PO3 Nicholas Richards made Oct 22 at 2020 1:54 AM

2020-10-22T01:54:36-04:00

I would like to know if you guys are the experts, why are veterans suicides still so high? You guys only can research those who may not have experienced much and wrote a book about something they thought was hard. Most veterans with ptsd don’t talk to anyone until it is to late, Why is that? Well it’s because des and nurses don’t know what it’s like and why we are differs t

Response by LT Jake Zweig made Oct 22 at 2020 2:24 AM

2020-10-22T02:24:53-04:00

QUESTION TRI CARE NOW COVERS HGH For TBI, is the VA going to do the same thing? SECOND heavy metals plays a large roll in brian problems, do the VA have a program for this?

Response by LT Scott Hanson made Oct 22 at 2020 4:48 AM

2020-10-22T04:48:36-04:00

For Dr. McKee: My family is interested in making a donation. How does that happen and will be cause of death be kept confidential (for future insurance purposes)?

Response by Rosa Vasquez made Oct 22 at 2020 5:07 AM

2020-10-22T05:07:21-04:00

PTSD is the diagnosis. Will ever be able to overcome that bad experience in life? Thanks.

Response by SPC Jessica Villarreal made Oct 22 at 2020 9:43 AM

2020-10-22T09:43:01-04:00

Where or how do you register for the event this afternoon for the Live Q&A w/ Brain Health experts?

Response by SSgt Timothy Prevost made Oct 22 at 2020 11:52 AM

2020-10-22T11:52:05-04:00

Do people really care about helping Veterans with TBI/CTE? I feel as though it's extremely hard prove that the Veteran/ service member actually has the symptoms of a TBI/CTE without actually conducting a CT or MRI. If those methods are the only tell tail option to prove theres a significant issue within the brain, then why make it so hard to get one of these tests?

Response by Brandon Boyd made Oct 22 at 2020 12:07 PM

2020-10-22T12:07:44-04:00

I'm in my late 20's. Will we be able to treat CTE in my lifetime?

Response by Julia Manning made Oct 22 at 2020 12:20 PM

2020-10-22T12:20:26-04:00

TBI's affect me professionally but I don't want it to impact my reputation. Do you talk about your TBI's?

Response by Brandon Drummond made Oct 22 at 2020 12:22 PM

2020-10-22T12:22:16-04:00

If I have CTE, what does my future look like?

Response by Capt Brandon Charters made Oct 22 at 2020 2:00 PM

2020-10-22T14:00:45-04:00

What current advancements in brain health are you most excited about and how will they directly help veterans who are impacted by TBI, PTSD or CTE?

Response by Sgt Tracy Wisdom made Oct 22 at 2020 2:07 PM

2020-10-22T14:07:53-04:00

What treatment modalities do you recommend for TBI/CTE to help with the emotional liability. I find traditional treatments like PE, CPT and EMDR are more effective in treating PTSD. What advise would you give a mental health provider to distinguish PTSD treatment from TBI

Response by Kelly Dean made Oct 22 at 2020 2:23 PM

2020-10-22T14:23:00-04:00

Dr. McKee, what differences do you see between athlete and Veteran brains in your research?

Response by Joe Cain made Oct 22 at 2020 2:26 PM

2020-10-22T14:26:10-04:00

What has the VA done to advance research on CTE?

Response by Michael Burke made Oct 22 at 2020 2:47 PM

2020-10-22T14:47:25-04:00

Question for Dr. McKee- How many veteran brains have you studied and what have you learned?

Response by CAPT Jack Clay made Oct 22 at 2020 3:51 PM

2020-10-22T15:51:26-04:00

Response by PO2 Marc Marx made Oct 22 at 2020 4:00 PM

2020-10-22T16:00:03-04:00

How does someone get a diagnosis of CTE?

Response by CPT Matt Collier made Oct 22 at 2020 4:02 PM

2020-10-22T16:02:15-04:00

Hello everyone! Glad to participate in this important discussion. My name is Matt Collier and I am a former Airborne-Ranger Infantry Officer in the Army. I am currently President & CEO at VetAccel Inc. Recently, I served as Senior Advisor to VA Secretary Bob McDonald, responsible for all major partnerships outside the VA. I am a member of the Concussion Legacy Foundation Board of Directors and chairman of CLF’s Veteran Advisory Board. I pledged my brain to CLF to help other Veterans. You can learn more about why I pledged here: https://concussionfoundation.org/story/how-my-brain-pledge-will-help-other-veterans

How my brain pledge will help other Veterans

The Honorable Matthew S. Collier joined the Concussion Legacy Foundation (CLF) Board of Directors in 2019. He is currently a Senior Advisor with Fieldstone Partners private equity company; President & CEO at VAI, a Houston-based health care company; and Partner & Chief Strategy Officer with OutcomeMD, a software company in LA. Previously, Matt served as Senior Advisor to the Secretary at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). In 1979,...

Response by MAJ Rebecca Van Horn made Oct 22 at 2020 4:02 PM

2020-10-22T16:02:49-04:00

I'm Dr. Rebecca Van Horn, really happy to be here to help answer some of your questions. I'm a psychiatrist at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago where I run The Road Home Program which provides evidence-based mental health care for veterans and service members with PTSD. I'm also a psychiatrist in the Army Reserves.

Response by COL Sidney Hinds made Oct 22 at 2020 4:02 PM

2020-10-22T16:02:50-04:00

My name is Sid Hinds and I am a recently retired United States Army officer. I have served both as a Medical Service Corps officer as well as a Medical Corps officer during the Gulf War and Operation Enduring Freedom. It is an honor and a pleasure to have been asked by the Concussion Legacy Foundation to participate in this Rally Point Q & A event. I am passionate about helping my fellow Service members and veterans. I have had concussions and multiple head impacts.

Response by LT Jason Redman made Oct 22 at 2020 4:02 PM

2020-10-22T16:02:51-04:00

Hi everyone My name is Retired LT Jason Redman. I served 21 years as a Navy SEAL. Did five deployments and two combat deployments. I was shot 8 times in an enemy firefight in Iraq in 2007 and was diagnosed with PTSD and TBI. I have come to manage both through different treatment programs and am now speaker, author and coach along with being a huge advocate for veterans to overcome the stigma of PTSD and TBI and to fight against veteran suicide. I am on the veterans council for Concussion Legacy Foundation and am an ambassador for the Gary Sinise Foundation.

Response by Nicole Condrey made Oct 22 at 2020 4:03 PM

2020-10-22T16:03:09-04:00

Hi, everyone! I am a military widow of a retired Navy EOD technician who suffered multiple TBIs and ultimately committed suicide two years ago when he could no longer withstand the feeling that he was a shell of a warrior he once was. I am a former U.S. Diplomat and U.S. Army civilian and currently a professional skydiver and Mayor of Middletown, Ohio (the home of Team Fastrax: "America's Skydiving Team"). I am also dedicated to helping veterans transition out of the military using the Color Code Personality Assessment Tool.

Response by CPT William Reynolds made Oct 22 at 2020 4:03 PM

2020-10-22T16:03:45-04:00

Good Afternoon Everyone! My name is Will Reynolds- Medically Retired Army Captain who had been in several blasts, one resulting in injury on deployment. Fueled my passion to work in federal healthcare, where I've been a consultant for the last decade working on various Military and Veteran Health initiatives.

Response by Ann McKee made Oct 22 at 2020 4:04 PM

2020-10-22T16:04:14-04:00

Hi everyone! I am Dr. Ann McKee and I am excited to take some questions today. I am Chief of Neuropathology at the VA Boston Healthcare System, Director of the BU CTE Center, and Director of the VA-BU-CLF Brain Bank. I focus my research on the long-term effects of brain trauma, including subconcussion and blast injury in military veterans. You can learn more about my research here: https://www.annmckeemd.com/

Home | Ann McKee, MD

Response by LT John Miles made Oct 22 at 2020 4:17 PM

2020-10-22T16:17:13-04:00

How do you join this live meeting?

Response by Cpl J Mendicelli made Oct 22 at 2020 4:20 PM

2020-10-22T16:20:47-04:00

Can you provide any good research articles or insight on the effects of repeated overpressure exposure (e.g. IED blasts, breach charges, AT4/SMAW rocket launcher use) on the brain both acutely and long-term? I've worked alongside guys who never blacked out from repeat exposure during training but definitely became visibly nauseous and unwell for hours post-training with the MK153 SMAW, or similarly, throwing up after a long day of using breach charges in country. Thanks for this opportunity.

Response by CDR Teresa McFarland made Mar 8 at 2021 8:39 PM

2021-03-08T20:39:50-05:00

Was this live event recorded?
Where can I listen/watch?