Posted on Jun 29, 2025
WRAIR-West begins recruitment for study of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury - DHA.mil
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Dr. Megan Douglas, Clinical Research Psychologist at WRAIR-West, is the site principal investigator for the two Military BRAIN Health projects which began recruitment at Joint-Base Lewis McChord in June 2025. “We are excited to partner with several military and civilian sites on this important study which will add to our knowledge about the impact of weapons exposure on service members” said Dr. Douglas. “This program will contribute to knowledge about low-level exposure to tier-1 weapons and ultimately inform injury-prevention policies to protect brain health.”
Service members who suffer mild traumatic brain injuries are at significantly higher risk for developing mental and physical health problems; however, identifying these problems and the service members at risk can be challenging.
The purpose of this study is to understand how chronic repeated head injuries affect brain health and to identify medical and psychological markers to inform earlier diagnosis and treatment. “The impact of TBI in the military has been well-examined,” notes Dr. Douglas. “However, this overall program will contribute to knowledge about low-level exposure to tier-1 weapons and repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries, which are more common.”
Recruitment for these studies is expected to run through 2027 and contribute to the overall research program by offering new insights into how to identify, support, and treat service members dealing with the long-term effects of repeated mild traumatic brain injuries and exposure to tier-1 weapons.
Dr. Douglas said, “an overarching goal of these projects is to identify clinical and biological risk factors for service members who experience occupation-related mild brain injuries to inform injury-prevention policies and to protect brain health.”
Learn more about this study and other research conducted at WRAIR-West on the website: https://wrairwest.health.mil/
Service members who suffer mild traumatic brain injuries are at significantly higher risk for developing mental and physical health problems; however, identifying these problems and the service members at risk can be challenging.
The purpose of this study is to understand how chronic repeated head injuries affect brain health and to identify medical and psychological markers to inform earlier diagnosis and treatment. “The impact of TBI in the military has been well-examined,” notes Dr. Douglas. “However, this overall program will contribute to knowledge about low-level exposure to tier-1 weapons and repetitive mild traumatic brain injuries, which are more common.”
Recruitment for these studies is expected to run through 2027 and contribute to the overall research program by offering new insights into how to identify, support, and treat service members dealing with the long-term effects of repeated mild traumatic brain injuries and exposure to tier-1 weapons.
Dr. Douglas said, “an overarching goal of these projects is to identify clinical and biological risk factors for service members who experience occupation-related mild brain injuries to inform injury-prevention policies and to protect brain health.”
Learn more about this study and other research conducted at WRAIR-West on the website: https://wrairwest.health.mil/
WRAIR-West begins recruitment for study of repetitive mild traumatic brain injury - DHA.mil
Posted from dha.mil
Medical
Research
TBI
Health
Posted 5 mo ago
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I'm wondering what is considered a mild TBI? I would think most combat arms folks would be the pool of voluntolds.
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SSgt Richard Kensinger
Based on my extensive clinical research on combat trauma, there is no mild version. It also adversely impacts the pulmonary and circulatory systems
rich
rich
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My sister (a civilian) apparently has TBI. After a blow to the head, she did not think it required going to the m.d. until over year later - due to insufferable headaches. At that point they prepared her for immediate surgery, then had to go back in and fix something.
That is of a different nature than damage from cumulative damage from concussive acoustic waves. Even so an TBI is not easy to treat, and recover from as much as possible.
It was heartbreaking - the devastation from which she had to recover. A huge amount of it seemed to be from meds, so she could not think straight and had memory problems. She was not allowed to drive for many years, because of the meds that were to prevent seizures, which were not a problem she had - until after the surgery. Some of the memory problems apparently stayed with her.
That is of a different nature than damage from cumulative damage from concussive acoustic waves. Even so an TBI is not easy to treat, and recover from as much as possible.
It was heartbreaking - the devastation from which she had to recover. A huge amount of it seemed to be from meds, so she could not think straight and had memory problems. She was not allowed to drive for many years, because of the meds that were to prevent seizures, which were not a problem she had - until after the surgery. Some of the memory problems apparently stayed with her.
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It's crazy that we have to thank Aaron Hernandez for bringing TBI some serious attention. My mother was an RN, who spent most of her career in a large rehab hospital, when that meant auto accidents and other physical impairments. I had a calcifide ridge on my head for years, and she just said I must have hit it really hard. There was nowhere to go about it, and nothing to be done.
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