Cardiovascular and Neurovascular Regulation in GWI

University of Wisconsin (UW)

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Brain Blood Flow; Neurovascular Control

Treatments: Other: Sympathetic Nerve Activity; Device: MRI; Device: Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound

Study type: Observational

Funder types: Other; Other U.S. Federal agency

Identifiers

NCT04586049

Protocol Version 09/15/2021 (Other Identifier)

2019-0961

W81XWH1910381 (Other Grant/Funding Number)

A176000 (Other Identifier)

EDUC/KINESIOLOGY (Other Identifier)

Details and patient eligibility

About

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.

Full 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.

Enrollment: 70 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 45 to 68 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• 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

Exclusion criteria

• 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

Trial design

70 participants in 2 patient groups

Veterans with GWI

Description:

Veterans with GWI who served in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1992

Treatment:

Device: Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound

Device: MRI

Other: Sympathetic Nerve Activity

Veterans without GWI (Controls)

Description:

Veterans without GWI who served in the Gulf War between 1990 and 1992

Treatment:

Device: Transcranial Doppler Ultrasound

Device: MRI

Other: Sympathetic Nerve Activity