An investigation of vascular brain health in veterans with traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder
Date
2025
Authors
Casey, Hayley
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Abstract
Prior research has indicated that both traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can impact brain structure and function and lead to a higher risk for dementia. The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative – Department of Defense (ADNI-DOD) database comprises data for Veterans between 60-80 years old who fit into four groups: individuals with a history of 1) TBI, 2) PTSD, 3) PTSD+TBI and 4) neither TBI nor PTSD (controls). The objectives of the current project were to 1) examine differences in vascular brain health (white matter hyperintensities (WMH)) and cognition between Veterans with TBI, PTSD, TBI+PTSD, and neither; and 2) examine the relationship between vascular brain health and modifiable risk factors (hypertension, alcohol use, and lifetime stress). Analyses of Covariances (ANCOVA) were conducted to test between group differences in WMH volumes and cognition (Objective 1). Results revealed no significant differences in vascular brain health amongst groups of Veterans with and without TBI, PTSD and PTSD+TBI. However, the control group scored significantly higher on the MoCA than the PTSD and PTSD+TBI groups. Pearson’s correlations were conducted to examine the associations between vascular brain health and modifiable risk factors (Objective 2). Analysis revealed no significant relationships between vascular brain health and modifiable risk factors. The current study contributes to growing literature on PTSD and TBI as risk factors for dementia in Veterans. Future research should examine additional measures of brain health in combination with other modifiable risk factors in Veterans.
Description
Keywords
Traumatic brain injury, Veterans, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Vascular brain health, Modifiable risk factors