New Initiatives

Vietnam Veterans to take part in nationwide Alzheimer's study

Vietnam Veterans salute at the 20th anniversary of the Vietnam Memorial dedication, in 2002. Hundreds of Vietnam Veterans will take part in a new study on the link between war injuries—namely TBI and PTSD—and Alzheimer's disease later in life. (Photo: Brien Aho/USN)

Vietnam Veterans salute at the 20th anniversary of the Vietnam Memorial dedication, in 2002. Hundreds of Vietnam Veterans will take part in a new study on the link between war injuries—namely TBI and PTSD—and Alzheimer's disease later in life. (Photo: Brien Aho/USN)

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Brain injury in Veterans tied to higher Alzheimer's risk

An article in the June 2014 issue of Alzheimer's and Dementia reported on a newly developed study to determine whether traumatic brain injury (TBI) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) increase Alzheimer's risk as Veterans age. The information collected in the study will help researchers learn more about how these issues may affect Vietnam Veterans as they grow older, as well as Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans.

Nationwide, approximately 1,000 Vietnam Veterans will participate in screening interviews and 500 will be interviewed by telephone. Approximately 300 Vietnam Veterans will be eligible to complete the entire study.

The study will be funded by the Department of Defense (DoD). Its lead investigator will be Dr. Michael Weiner, a San Francisco-based VA investigator who heads the national Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI). The study itself is being referred to as DOD-ADNI.