WASHINGTON — Gulf War illness, the series of symptoms ranging from headaches to memory loss to chronic fatigue that plagues one of four veterans of the 1991 Persian Gulf war, is due to damage to the autonomic nervous system, a study released Monday shows.
“This is the linchpin,” said the study’s lead author, Robert Haley, chief of epidemiology at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.
“The disease itself is so difficult to express and to understand,” Haley said, explaining that veterans described simply that they “don’t feel well” or “can’t function,” without being able to further explain a disease that affects the automatic functions of their bodies, such as heat regulation, sleep or even their heartbeats.
“Docs don’t know what the disease is, so they can’t help,” Haley said. “But if you can figure out what the disease is, the other problems will fall in line.”
Researchers spent 15 years researching a hypothesis, and then “we planned the ultimate study that proved that hypothesis,” Haley said.
Along with Steven Vernino, chief of the neuromuscular division at Southwestern, Haley sent 97 veterans through 25 tests, including brain imaging, in seven days. The group had been drawn from a sample of 8,000 Gulf War veterans. The study was published Monday in Archives of Neurology.
“Veterans have high faith in Dr. Haley’s dedicated and informative research,” said Paul Sullivan of Veterans for Common Sense and a Gulf War veteran. “This finding is important because for the first time physicians who care for Gulf War veterans now have a medical explanation for many of the unusual symptoms.”
The team conducted several studies, and then built a theory based on the results of that work.
The doctors had funding from Congress until 2010, when they were dropped by the Department of Veterans Affairs after being accused of wasting millions of dollars in research money. That came directly after a 2009 study from Haley showed that neurotoxins such as anti-nerve agent pills, insect repellent and the nerve agent sarin caused neurological changes to the brain, and that the changes seem to correlate with different symptoms.
After they lost funding, Haley and the other researchers continued their work on their own time.
“This is the most important study of all,” Haley said. “The veterans want to know what’s wrong with them. Now, for the first time, all the doctors in the country can say, ‘Oh, maybe these are autonomic symptoms.’ If you’re not thinking autonomic, the symptoms can sound kind of flaky.”
Music is known to “soothe the savage beast” but it also can improve cognitive function and motor coordination in those with a brain injury or disease, say music therapy advocates.
Now patients at the National Intrepid Center of Excellence and Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., will have a chance to see whether learning or playing an instrument can improve their brain power.
Officials with the Intrepid Center, or NICoE, announced Nov. 16 they will expand the facility’s therapeutic arts program to include music.
The therapy will be offered as part of Operation Homecoming, an initiative co-sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts that explores the healing power of the arts, including writing, drawing and painting.
“Neurologic music therapy, which is science-based music training, helps people regain speech, movement and other neurological function lost to disease,” NEA Chairman Rocco Landesman said.
Music therapy will be available to the roughly 240 patients seen at the NICoE each year as well as Walter Reed outpatients who have a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s or other neurologic conditions.
The program will be evaluated clinically to determine whether it should be expanded to other military treatment facilities and brain injury centers nationwide, according to Rear Adm. Alton Stocks, Walter Reed’s commander.
“Our role at the NICoE isn’t to treat thousands of patients who have TBI or PTS right now but to do the research and education on what works. We expect it will have much more far-reaching effects,” Stocks said.
Operation Homecoming was first established in 2004 by the NEA to help troops and families write about their experiences in Afghanistan, Iraq and at home. Of the program’s roughly $200,000-a-year budget, about $70,000 will go to music instruction and therapy research through 2015, officials said.
Quote by trojanrabbit:
We don't have to worry any more, Willard found a job.
Quote by velveeta jones:
Morning all. Raine, I'll call you later today maybe around noonish. Depends on what crisis I'm dealing with at the moment. LOL
Quote by trojanrabbit:
We don't have to worry any more, Willard found a job.
Quote by Raine:
It amazes me that it took 20 years to finally come to a consensus about Gulf War syndrome.
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all..
It's a good thing I haven't had breakfast this morning, cuz this story woulda make me puke.
"Even if no weapon existed, the strength differential is so large that Belcher could have easily killed [his girlfriend Kasandra] Perkins in any number of ways."
Quote by Scoopster:
Mornin' all..
It's a good thing I haven't had breakfast this morning, cuz this story woulda make me puke.
Quote by Raine:
Am I the only one who didn't know that Lindsey Graham adopted his sister?
Quote by Raine:Now, This story says he justbecame her guardian.Quote by Raine:
Am I the only one who didn't know that Lindsey Graham adopted his sister?
Social Security. (added link)
Quote by TriSec:
I, your Loyal Trisec, and WWII geek, was stunned to learn of these battles whilst Reading "The Grand Alliance" by Sir Winston.
There's plenty of other things that took place during this timeframe that I well know about, but I was rather shocked to read about this rather unknown campaign.
Think I lost my WWII cred here, but then again I am a Pacific Theater guy, mostly.
But an aptly named cake baker, Harry Baker, from Hollywood, California, challenged conventional cake wisdom and started his own mini baking revolution. Baker, originally an insurance salesman and recreational cook, enjoyed all cakes, but dreamed of combining the richness of butter cake with the lightness of sponge cake...Baker's ambitious pursuit took years...in 1927, his efforts brought forth an upside-down cake that was described as light, tender, delicate, glamorous, and delicious, with sensational volume. Dessert lovers clamored for a taste, hoping to name Baker's reputed mystery ingredient. Baker doggedly guarded his secret...As word of Baker's miracle cake spread throughout Hollywood, orders soared beyond his capacity to fill them...Both MGM and RKO granted screen time to his creations, and chiffon cake as added to the menu at the Brown Derby restaurant...Almost twenty years passed before Baker went public with the recipe, timing the sale of his secret of the lifting of wartime restrictions.
Quote by TriSec:
YA know, it could actually be RKO studios...
But an aptly named cake baker, Harry Baker, from Hollywood, California, challenged conventional cake wisdom and started his own mini baking revolution. Baker, originally an insurance salesman and recreational cook, enjoyed all cakes, but dreamed of combining the richness of butter cake with the lightness of sponge cake...Baker's ambitious pursuit took years...in 1927, his efforts brought forth an upside-down cake that was described as light, tender, delicate, glamorous, and delicious, with sensational volume. Dessert lovers clamored for a taste, hoping to name Baker's reputed mystery ingredient. Baker doggedly guarded his secret...As word of Baker's miracle cake spread throughout Hollywood, orders soared beyond his capacity to fill them...Both MGM and RKO granted screen time to his creations, and chiffon cake as added to the menu at the Brown Derby restaurant...Almost twenty years passed before Baker went public with the recipe, timing the sale of his secret of the lifting of wartime restrictions.
This was Chiffon cake - from The Food Timeline.
Otherwise, all I could think of from the acronym was Occupied Korea, but they wouldn't be making cake plates out of Japanese shells now, would they?
Quote by wickedpam:
I have a question for those that know something about WWII era stuff - at home I have a brass cake plate that says Made in R.K.O. - rumor in the family has it that its made from an unexploded shell - do you guys know anything about it? I've tried the google and all I get is RKO studio's.
Quote by clintster:Quote by wickedpam:
I have a question for those that know something about WWII era stuff - at home I have a brass cake plate that says Made in R.K.O. - rumor in the family has it that its made from an unexploded shell - do you guys know anything about it? I've tried the google and all I get is RKO studio's.
On a hunch, I Googled RKO, and I think your cake pan may have been made in South Korea (RKO may mean Republic of Korea).
Quote by TriSec:
Well, it could also be "Really Krappy Objects", which is a novelty company that manufactures junk in Carjackistan.
Better check - could be particle board with brass paint.
* ducks incoming brick *
The Hanukkah menorah is a sign of peace and joy, symbolic of a miracle in the Jewish religion.
But a menorah in Miami Beach, Fla., has also become an attraction for hate speech, with someone scribbling "you killed Jesus" on the base of the prominent Chabad Hanukkah display.
Rabbi Zev Katz, who put up the menorah, is disappointed.
"I hoped that people from other religions, we could all get along, we all have what we believe in, respect each other and live with each other," said Katz, of Chabad House in Miami Beach.
Quote by TriSec:
Exhales through clenched teeth...
The Hanukkah menorah is a sign of peace and joy, symbolic of a miracle in the Jewish religion.
But a menorah in Miami Beach, Fla., has also become an attraction for hate speech, with someone scribbling "you killed Jesus" on the base of the prominent Chabad Hanukkah display.
Rabbi Zev Katz, who put up the menorah, is disappointed.
"I hoped that people from other religions, we could all get along, we all have what we believe in, respect each other and live with each other," said Katz, of Chabad House in Miami Beach.
Quote by clintster:
Welcome to another edition of "Republicans Eating Their Own". Jim DeMint thinks Boehner is fighting for a tax hike.
PS the comments are sterling examples of free-range derp.
Quote by Raine:What I find amazingis how few Republicans are speaking out on behalf of Boner.Quote by clintster:
Welcome to another edition of "Republicans Eating Their Own". Jim DeMint thinks Boehner is fighting for a tax hike.
PS the comments are sterling examples of free-range derp.
Quote by TriSec:
Exhales through clenched teeth...
The Hanukkah menorah is a sign of peace and joy, symbolic of a miracle in the Jewish religion.
But a menorah in Miami Beach, Fla., has also become an attraction for hate speech, with someone scribbling "you killed Jesus" on the base of the prominent Chabad Hanukkah display.
Rabbi Zev Katz, who put up the menorah, is disappointed.
"I hoped that people from other religions, we could all get along, we all have what we believe in, respect each other and live with each other," said Katz, of Chabad House in Miami Beach.
Quote by TriSec:
Exhales through clenched teeth...
The Hanukkah menorah is a sign of peace and joy, symbolic of a miracle in the Jewish religion.
But a menorah in Miami Beach, Fla., has also become an attraction for hate speech, with someone scribbling "you killed Jesus" on the base of the prominent Chabad Hanukkah display.
Rabbi Zev Katz, who put up the menorah, is disappointed.
"I hoped that people from other religions, we could all get along, we all have what we believe in, respect each other and live with each other," said Katz, of Chabad House in Miami Beach.
Quote by Mondobubba:
On this day in 1954 the first Burger King opened in Miami. Miami, I am looking at you! Yes, you. Burger King is your fault. Own up to it. Make amends.
Quote by Raine:The Whopper used to be a thing of wonder.Quote by Mondobubba:
On this day in 1954 the first Burger King opened in Miami. Miami, I am looking at you! Yes, you. Burger King is your fault. Own up to it. Make amends.
Quote by Will in Chicago:Quote by Raine:The Whopper used to be a thing of wonder.Quote by Mondobubba:
On this day in 1954 the first Burger King opened in Miami. Miami, I am looking at you! Yes, you. Burger King is your fault. Own up to it. Make amends.
Is it me, or have some of the big name sandwiches at fast food places shrunk since I was younger?