Cardiovascular and Neurovascular Regulation in GWI
- Conditions
- Brain Blood FlowNeurovascular Control
- Interventions
- Device: MRIDevice: Transcranial Doppler UltrasoundOther: Sympathetic Nerve Activity
- Registration Number
- NCT04586049
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Wisconsin, Madison
- Brief Summary
Brain blood flow regulation and autonomic dysfunction will be measured in Veterans with and without Gulf War Illness who served in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1992.
- Detailed Description
Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a multi-symptom illness with unknown etiology. GWI is a leading cause of disability in Gulf War Veterans. Cognitive complaints are a common symptom of GWI, which suggests the brain is involved in the development of this condition. As Veterans age, these cognitive complaints may worsen and be compounded by the aging process. GWI may be a condition of "accelerated" brain aging. Therefore, there may be long-term consequences of GWI, and the presence of GWI may increase a person's risk for developing Alzheimer's Disease (AD) or other dementias. In comparison to other brain-related diseases such as stroke, relatively little is known about GWI and how this condition impacts the normal age-related changes in the brain.
The research aims are:
1. To determine if Veterans with Gulf War Illness demonstrate abnormal brain blood flow regulation and autonomic dysfunction when compared with Veterans without Gulf War Illness.
2. To determine if brain blood flow and autonomic nervous system variables in Veterans are associated with other markers of brain aging that are relevant to cognitive decline.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 70
- Deployed to the Persian Gulf between 1990-1992
- Body mass <300 lbs
- Diagnosis of Gulf War Illness based on CMI/CDC and Kansas definitions or No diagnosis of Gulf War Illness
- Current or lifetime evidence of: Type II diabetes, neurological disease, cancer treatment, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders, or mood disorders with psychotic features
- Current illicit substance use or partial remission for less than 1 year
- Taking multiple sedatives or anticonvulsant medications
- Currently pregnant
- Absolute contraindications to exercise testing
- Contraindications to MRI
- Other significant medical conditions at investigator's discretion
Study & Design
- Study Type
- OBSERVATIONAL
- Study Design
- Not specified
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Veterans without GWI (Controls) Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound Veterans without GWI who served in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1992 Veterans with GWI Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound Veterans with GWI who served in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1992 Veterans without GWI (Controls) MRI Veterans without GWI who served in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1992 Veterans with GWI Sympathetic Nerve Activity Veterans with GWI who served in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1992 Veterans with GWI MRI Veterans with GWI who served in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1992 Veterans without GWI (Controls) Sympathetic Nerve Activity Veterans without GWI who served in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1992
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Brain blood flow measured using Transcranial Doppler ultrasound Baseline Neurovascular control will be investigated by measuring the change in brain blood flow using a transcranial Doppler ultrasound in response to a breathing test.
Brain blood flow measured using MRI Baseline Neurovascular control will be investigated by measuring the change in brain blood flow using an MRI in response to a breathing test.
Sympathetic nerve activity Baseline Neurovascular control will be investigated by measuring the change in sympathetic nerve activity will be measured using microneurography in response to a breathing test.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of Wisconsin-Madison
🇺🇸Madison, Wisconsin, United States