Empowering VeteransEnabling Success: EVESTBI/PTSD - The Impact On Brain Structures

Sleep Function and Reading

Dr Denise A ValentiVision Care: Specializing in Research Related to Neural Processing of the Visual System in Injury, Aging and Neurodegenerative Disease

EVES EVES Project funded by generous grant from

Blue Hills Community Health Alliance, a community health area network supported by the Massachusetts Department of Health.

This contains a small portion of the lecture provided to Quincy College Faculty through the grant.

Dr Denise A Valenti

Gulf War Legacy

Of the 697,000 Gulf War veterans, 53% are receiving compensation for service-connected disabilities

The disability rate for the last century was 5% before Vietnam 10% in Vietnam

U.S. News and World Report, www.usnews.comand The Cedars of Lebanon Weep

Dr Denise A Valenti

Not Just Physical Injury

Dr Denise A Valenti

TBI TBI is the “signature injury” of recent wars

IEDs account for 65% of combat injuries Of all exposed to IED, 60% have TBI Estimate that approximately 10,000 have TBI (2007 data)

Harriet Zeiner, Sept 2007 www.kamberphoto.com/

Dr Denise A Valenti

Symptoms Reported Suspected TBI

Symptoms % patients N=166)

Sleep Disturbances 84%

Irritability 84%

Attention/Concentration 79%

Mood swings 76%

Memory problems 76%

Anxiety 74%

Headaches 71%

Light/noise sensitivity 69%

Depression 66%

Visual disturbances 66%

Tinnitus 58%

Excessive fatigue 58%

Balance problems 42%

Dizziness 40%

Lew HL, et al. Defining Characteristics of Returning Military in a VA PNS, JRRD

Dr Denise A Valenti