BRAIN-SPEED-VETS: Brain Research Assessing Impacts of Neurophysiological Processing Speed Training in Veterans
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Summary
Older veterans with a history of mild brain trauma exhibit early cognitive challenges, especially in driving-related tasks. This is attributed to alterations in the brain's excitatory/inhibitory (E/I) balance. This pilot project investigates this phenomenon by leveraging electroencephalography (EEG) to measure parietal lobe alpha rhythms during visual attention tasks. The hypothesis is that targeted visual attention training can modulate these alpha rhythms, improving instrumental activities in daily life. However, outcomes from such training vary, possibly due to individual differences in cortical inhibitory functions. This study will assess the relationship between EEG measures of E/I balance pre- and post-visual attention training and its effects on processing speeds in aging veterans. Our findings aim to provide a foundation for customized therapies and interventions for veterans with and without a history of brain trauma.
Description
Veterans aged 50 and above who have suffered mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) are twice as prone to develop dementia. From 2001, during the Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) campaigns, over 470,000 veterans were diagnosed with TBI. Beyond the prevalence of the signature wound of the OEF and OIF campaigns, the number of mTBI cases within the VA system is believed to be much higher. Disturbingly, an increasing number of veterans, especially those with TBI, are being diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment and frank dementia between ages 50-60. With 72% of vete…