Cardiovascular and Neurovascular Regulation in GWI

Description

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a multi-symptom illness with unknown etiology. GWI is a leading cause of disability in Gulf War Veterans. Cognitive complaints are a common symptom of GWI, which suggests the brain is involved in the development of this condition. As Veterans age, these cognitive complaints may worsen and be compounded by the aging process. GWI may be a condition of “accelerated” brain aging. Therefore, there may be long-term consequences of GWI, and the presence of GWI may increase a person’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) or other dementias. In comparison to other brain-related diseases such as stroke, relatively little is known about GWI and how this condition impacts the normal age-related changes in the brain.

The research aims are:

1. To determine if Veterans with Gulf War Illness demonstrate abnormal brain blood flow regulation and autonomic dysfunction when compared with Veterans without Gulf War Illness.
2. To determine if brain blood flow and autonomic nervous system variables in Veterans are associated with other markers of brain aging that are relevant to cognitive decline.