Protocol Number: 08-N-0198

Title:

Warfighter Head Injury Study - a Comprehensive, Multidisciplinary Research Evaluation

Number:

08-N-0198

Summary:

This study will examine the long-term outcome of brain injuries, the effects of treatment on outcome and the effects of brain injury on people's behavior and abilities.

Men and women between 18 and 75 years of age who served in combat in the Iraq war may be eligible for this study. It will compare test results in those who sustained a traumatic penetrating or blast-related brain injury during combat with those who did not.

Participants undergo the following procedures over a 5-day period of testing that lasts about 6 hours a day:

-Medical history and physical examination.

-Blood test for genetic analysis.

-Electroencephalography (EEG) to measure the electrical activity of the brain.

-MRI or CT scans of the brain to look at the structure and blood flow of the brain.

-Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to monitor blood flow in the front part of the brain blood by measuring changes in near-infrared light.

-Neuropsychological testing, including questionnaires, pen-and-paper or computerized tests, and performance of simple actions to measure brain function, language, memory and other cognitive abilities..

Sponsoring Institute:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)

Recruitment Detail

Type: Participants currently recruited/enrolled

Gender: Male & Female

Referral Letter Required: No

Population Exclusion(s): Children

Eligibility Criteria:

INCLUSION CRITERIA:

TBI SUBJECTS:

- Warfighter with head injury;

- Both sexes will be included; however we expect the cohort to be overwhelmingly (greater than 90%) male;

- Age range18-75;

- At least 6 months post-head injury; or

- Those patients who have previously participated in the VHIS.

CONTROLS:

- Warfighter with NO history of head injury. Control subjects will be healthy IA warfighter volunteers who are matched to head-injured IA warfighters for time in service, combat exposure, age, gender and preinjury ASVAB scores. All IA warfighter control participants must provide copies of their ASVAB induction testing scores, if applicable; or

- Those warfighter controls who have previously participated in the VHIS.

- Age 18-75;

- Either gender or any race/ethnicity;

- Able to travel and function independently.

EXCLUSION CRITERIA:

TBI SUBJECTS:

- Any medical condition that, in the judgment of investigators, would make participation detrimental to the patient (e.g.: severe clinical depression, unstable heart disease).

CONTROLS:

- Neurological or psychiatric conditions;

- History of drug abuse; or

- Unable to travel independently.

Special Instructions:

Currently Not Provided

Keywords:

Traumatic Brain Injury

Brain Imaging

Brain Plasticity

Neuroplasticity

Neuropsychological Testing

Recruitment Keyword(s):

Traumatic Brain Injury

Head Injury

Healthy Volunteer

Condition(s):

Head Injury

Investigational Drug(s):

None

Investigational Device(s):

None

Intervention(s):

None

Supporting Site:

National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Contact(s):

Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office
Building 61
10 Cloister Court
Bethesda, Maryland 20892-4754
Toll Free: 1-800-411-1222
TTY: 301-594-9774 (local),1-866-411-1010 (toll free)
Fax: 301-480-9793

Electronic Mail:prpl@mail.cc.nih.gov

Citation(s):

Abell F, Krams M, Ashburner J, Passingham R, Friston K, Frackowiak R, HappŽ F, Frith C, Frith U. The neuroanatomy of autism: a voxel-based whole brain analysis of structural scans. Neuroreport. 1999 Jun 3;10(8):1647-51.

Adolphs R. The neurobiology of social cognition. Curr Opin Neurobiol. 2001 Apr;11(2):231-9. Review.

Adolphs R. Cognitive neuroscience of human social behaviour. Nat Rev Neurosci. 2003 Mar;4(3):165-78. Review.

• Questions about participating in a study, please contact the Patient Recruitment and Public Liaison Office, CC.
• Technical questions regarding the Clinical Center web site, please contact the Department of Clinical Research Informatics, CC.

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