Inclusion criteria
|
Age between 18 and 65 |
Veterans with MOSs during service defined to be high-risk that are associated with exposures to blast during training and/or combat. These can include Cannon Crewmembers, Explosive Ordinance Disposal Specialists, Fire Infantrymen, Combat Engineers, and Special Forces etc. |
Exposure to repeated blasts as part of military duties |
Score of 2 of greater on at least one Neurobehavioral Symptom Questionnaire (NSI) symptom |
Ability to provide informed consent |
Willingness to provide blood |
Exclusion criteria
|
Inability to adequately respond to questions regarding the informed consent procedure |
Currently involved in the criminal justice system as a prisoner or ward of the state |
Non-English speaking |
Current occupation involving shift work |
Female Veteran who is pregnant |
Lifetime history of bipolar disorder or psychosis |
History of moderate or severe TBI |
Changes in regularly used medications (e.g., daily) in the last month for medications known to impact sleep (e.g., benzodiazepines, etc.) |
Current chronic steroid use |
History of neurological or neurodegenerative disease such as multiple sclerosis |
History of brain tumor |
History of seizure disorder unrelated to TBI |
History of HIV/AIDS |
Current systemic illness such as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, hypo- or hyperthyroidism, or systemic cancer |
Acute disease at the time of enrollment (defer sampling until subject recovers). Acute disease is defined as the presence of a moderate or severe illness with or without fever |