CDMRP-Funded Study Finds 3 Blood Biomarkers of Gulf War Illness, Advances Toward Treatments

(91outcomes.com) - A Minnesota researcher has identified three "readily measurable" biomarkers in the blood of 1991 Gulf War veterans suffering from Gulf War Illness that may help enhance the current case definition for the disease and aid in treatment trials.  

Supported by a U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) research grant, Dr. Ronald Bach of the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and his research team identified the biomarkers, which include specific changes in lymphocytes, monocytes, and C reactive protein.  Additionally, "Lymphocyte, monocyte, neutrophil, and platelet counts were higher in GWI subjects. Six serum proteins associated with inflammation were significantly different in GWI subjects."

CDMRP-Funded Study Finds 3 Blood Biomarkers of Gulf War Illness, Advances Toward Treatments

(91outcomes.com) - A Minnesota researcher has identified three "readily measurable" biomarkers in the blood of 1991 Gulf War veterans suffering from Gulf War Illness that may help enhance the current case definition for the disease and aid in treatment trials.  

VA Study Confirms Worse Sleep Quality, Higher Sleep Apnea Risk in Gulf War Illness

(91outcomes.com) - A new study by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) shows that veterans suffering from Gulf War Illness (GWI) have greater risk for obstructive sleep apnea than similar veterans without the debilitating condition.

The study, led by longstanding VA GWI researcher Dr. Linda Chao, also found that veterans with GWI had significantly greater severity of insomnia and worse sleep quality.

Interestingly, the study found a close correlation between insomnia and severity and GWI status.

CDMRP Study Confirms, Builds on Previous Findings that Gulf War Toxins Lead to Long-Term Brain Inflammation

(91outcomes.com) - A study funded by a federal medical research program aimed at developing treatments for Gulf War Illness has found new insight into possible treatment pathways for the debilitating condition that affects as many as one-third of the veterans of the 1991 Gulf War.

The study also confirmed previous findings of persistent neurological inflammation in a mouse model following Gulf War toxic exposures. 

Most notably, according to the study's findings, "the persistent neuroinflammation evident in our model presents a platform with which to identify novel biological pathways, correlating with emergent outcomes that may be amenable to therapeutic targeting. Furthermore, in this work we confirmed our previous findings that GW [Gulf War] agent exposure causes neuropathological changes....

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