Effects of Deployment Traumatic Brain Injury on the Functional Connectome

Thursday, November 10, 2022

3:35 PM – 3:51 PM

Presenting Author(s)

Jared A. Rowland, PhD

Research Neuropsychologist
W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, North Carolina, United States

Slides

Non-presenting Author(s)

JS

Jennifer Stapleton-Kotloski, Ph.D.

MEG Scientist
Wake Forest School of Medicine, United States
ER

Emily Rogers

Medical Science Liason
Greenwich Biosciences, United States
KT

Katherine H. Taber

Research Health Scientist
W.G. (Bill) Hefner VA Medical Center, United States
DG

Dwayne Godwin

Professor
Wake Forest School of Medicine, United States
SM

Sarah L. Martindale, PHD

Research Scientist
W. G. (Bill) Hefner VA Healthcare System
Salisbury, North Carolina, United States

The study examines magnetoencephalography (MEG)-derived functional brain connectomes in 181 combat-exposed veterans to determine if there are differential effects of mild traumatic brain injury (TBI) that occurrs in a deployment or non-deployment setting. This is a cross-sectional/observational study using validated structured clinical interviews to determine TBI history and PTSD diagnosis. Connectomes were constructed on an individual basis using active brain regions in the resting-state. Results demonstrate distinct effects of mild TBI on the functional brain connectome when sustained in a deployment versus non-deployment context. These results are consistent with a growing body of evidence demonstrating differences in outcomes of mild TBI acquired in a deployment context from those acquired in a non-deployment context.

Learning Objectives:

Describe differences in chronic outcomes of mild TBI based on the context of the injury (deployment or non-deployment).
Discuss how the context of mild TBI acquisition produces distinct profiles of changes to the functional connectome.
Discuss the implications of chronic changes in brain function following mild TBI for service members and veterans and how these chronic changes inform current conceptualizations and treatment of mild TBI.