Scientists have long known that explosions during wars results in mild traumatic brain injury or mTBI among the soldiers. However, this time the researchers have determined the exact location of the brain that is harmed and the reason harm occurs. The team consisted of researchers from the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System and the University of Washington (UW). The research team carried out the assessment of brain scans of combat veterans. Similar analysis was carried out on mice to understand the reason and location of the mTBI.

The analysis revealed that the blasts particularly damage the cerebellum, which is responsible for regulating motor control, balance and cognition. “We find that there are many multi-factorial abnormalities in the cerebellum, including injury to the blood brain barrier, inflammation, and structural damage to cells,” said co-authors Satoshi Minoshima, MD, PhD, Chair of Radiology at the University of Utah, and Donna Cross, PhD. Similar damage was witnessed in the brains of the mice when they were subjected to blasts.

Blasts resulted in an average of 21 mTBIs in over 40 former soldiers, with some being detected with more than 100 mTBIs. Glucose metabolism levels reduced with the increase in number of explosions witnessed. The explosions result in leakages in the blood brain barrier (BBB), which is a layer of tissue responsible for protecting brain from infectious bacteria and other abnormal substances. Subsequently, the surrounding brain cells get damaged that can eventually result in modifications in brain over the long-term. The injuries get worse with recurring explosions.

As an after effect of explosion, a protein known as tau was formed, this is exclusively found in patients, who are suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. These outcomes and other findings suggest a need to formulate policies that will safeguard the soldiers from such brain damage that can eventually lead to neurodegenerative diseases.