National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) Grant awarded (PI Morey) in 2017
“Trauma and Genomics Modulate Brain Structure across Common Psychiatric Disorders”
Exposure to trauma and abuse during childhood, a critical neurodevelopmental period, is a major risk factor for developing psychiatric conditions in adulthood. Our goal is to search for genes in adults who were exposed to psychological trauma (abuse, neglect) as children and develop psychiatric illness in adulthood in order to identify genetic variants that produce alterations in brain structure evident with MRI. Our long-term goal is to identify genetic modulators of brain structure that might inform early prediction and treatment for a range of psychiatric disorders where childhood trauma is a major risk factor.
Nearby blasts may cause lasting damage without symptoms
A small scientific study of veterans exposed to bomb blasts while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan uncovered signs of lasting brain damage even in cases where there were no outward symptoms such as headaches, dizziness or confusion. Read More…
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) Grant awarded (PI Morey) in 2014
“White Matter Damage in Subconcussive Blast Exposure”
Little attention has been given to investigating white matter following asymptomatic exposure to repetitive blast. Our goal is to assess damage to white matter and impairments in cognitive performance in recent military veterans with primary blast exposure who lacked clinical symptoms of TBI (subconcussive blast exposure).
Exposure to bomb blasts may cause brain injury in vets — without symptoms
In conflict zones such as Afghanistan and Iraq, military personnel are often exposed to intense explosive blasts, which can lead to symptoms of traumatic brain injury (TBI) and eventually long-term brain damage. Read More…
Brain Scans Might Help Spot PTSD
Study of US veterans shows key differences in neural activity.
Someday, doctors might use brain scans to diagnose post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), according to researchers who conducted tests on 42 American soldiers who’d recently served in Iraq or Afghanistan. Read More…
Brain scan ‘could diagnose PTSD’
Scientists say they are moving ever closer to diagnosing Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) using a brain scanner.
Research to be presented to the World Psychiatric Association congress in Florence suggests differences in the brain activity of PTSD sufferers. Over 40 US soldiers who had served in Iraq or Afghanistan were tested – about half of whom had a diagnosis of PTSD. Read More…
Imaging Ties PTSD to Altered Brain Function
Specific neural signatures of posttraumatic stress disorder in brain centers involved in cognition and emotions have been identified on imaging studies of recently returned veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a finding that may advance efforts to objectively diagnose individuals with the disorder. Read More…
