MONDAY, June 16, 2014 (HealthDay News) -- Brain injuries in U.S. military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan have similar outcomes whether the cause was a blast or another trauma, a new study reveals. The researchers also found that nearly 80 percent of all active military personnel who suffered a concussion -- regardless of cause -- developed moderate to severe overall disability within a year after the injury. An estimated 20 percent of U.S. forces in Iraq and Afghanistan suffered a head injury, and concussion occurred in about 83 percent of those cases, according to the new research, which was published June 16 in the journal JAMA Neurology. The researchers assessed 178 military personnel six to 12 months after they suffered a concussion while serving in Iraq or Afghanistan: 53 were injured in a blast, and 29 were injured by other causes. The study also included two "control" groups of 27 military personnel who were exposed to blasts but suffered no brain injuries, and 69 who had no blast exposure but required medical treatment for injuries other than brain trauma. Rates of overall disability were nearly the same for patients with both blast- and nonblast-related concussion, 77 percent and 79 … Continue reading →

As Kara Gagnon worked to diagnose vision problems associated with traumatic brain injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans several years ago, she saw another need. Gagnon, then an optometrist with the Veterans Hospital in West Haven, noticed that some of the patients' caregivers, often young wives, who waited outside of her office "were exhibiting a high level of stress." She realized the caregivers themselves were often shouldering larger responsibilities and challenges as they dealt with the effects of brain injuries or post-traumatic stress disorder in their loved ones. "Their names and faces are emblazoned in my brain," she said about the families. Gagnon, who grew up in Old Saybrook and now resides in Chester, decided she had to help. She recently founded Peace of Mind Brain Injury Services for BraveMinds, a non-profit organization, to build a community of support. She plans to open a wellness center in Milford later this month to offer mental and physical health services to veterans and their families. Eventually, Gagnon, an associate clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine, aims to open an eye clinic there, too, and wellness centers across the country. Michael Osten of Norwich, a U.S. Army veteran who works full-time … Continue reading →

Published June 09. 2014 4:00AM Updated June 09. 2014 1:21PM As Kara Gagnon worked to diagnose vision problems associated with traumatic brain injuries in Iraq and Afghanistan veterans several years ago, she saw another need. Gagnon, then a optometrist with the Veterans Hospital in West Haven, noticed that some of the patients' caregivers, often young wives, who waited outside of her office "were exhibiting a high level of stress." She realized the caregivers themselves were often shouldering larger responsibilities and challenges, as they dealt with the effects of brain injuries or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder in their loved ones. "Their names and faces are emblazoned in my brain," she said about the families. Gagnon, who grew up in Old Saybrook and now resides in Chester, decided she had to help. She recently founded Peace of Mind Brain Injury Services for BraveMinds, a nonprofit organization, to build a community of support. She plans to open a wellness center in Milford later this month to offer mental and physical health services to veterans and their families. Eventually, Gagnon, an associate clinical professor at the Yale School of Medicine, aims to open an eye clinic there too and wellness centers across the country. … Continue reading →

FILE PHOTO U.S. Rep. Pascrell The Centers for Disease Control would begin keeping detailed, uniform data on traumatic brain injuries suffered by athletes, military veterans and others if legislation that Rep. Bill Pascrell unveiled Wednesday becomes law. Pascrell, D-Paterson, has spent more than a decade trying to focus attention on brain injuries, and his efforts included pressuring scholastic and professional sports teams to set policies about athletes returning to the field after concussions. It also included urging the military to do more to treat what Pascrell calls a silent epidemic among veterans whose brain injuries were not diagnosed after armor protected them from suffering more obvious injuries in explosions. It took us five years to convince them they were missing the boat, Pascrell said at a news conference. He noted the first appropriation specifically for veterans brain injuries was not approved until 2007, even though by his estimates 20 percent of fighters serving in Iraq and Afghanistan suffered some level of injury. An Army veteran from New Jersey, John Irwin, shared his story during a panel discussion on Capitol Hill after Pascrells news conference. Irwin, 33, of Toms River, said in an interview he was injured in an explosion in … Continue reading →