Skip to main content

Military Health System

Test of Sitewide Banner

This is a test of the sitewide banner capability. In the case of an emergency, site visitors would be able to visit the news page for addition information.

DOD Brain Health Initiative is at Work Across the Military

Image of Two hands holding damaged wearable blast mesurement gauges from a study on blast pressure exposure. Small, wearable blast measurement gauges show the damages incurred during a recent study of blast pressure exposure at Fort Campbell, Kentucky. The pilot study with the 101st Airborne was part of a congressionally mandated longitudinal study on blast overpressure in members of the armed services. The study is part of the Warfighter Brain Health initiative, which focuses on gathering data on service members’ brain health in training, deployment, garrisons, and off-duty sports.

The Department of Defense continues its research work to improve brain health across all services and operational environments.

As part of a congressionally directed research effort on brain health and blast exposures, DOD Health Affairs and the Defense Health Agency implemented a pilot study that took place at the U.S. Army's Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with 333 members of the 101st Airborne Division and their trainers. The study ran from March 15 to Nov. 24, 2021.

The study evaluated current monitoring capabilities for brain health and blast overpressure, which is the shock wave that occurs from firing weapons or weapon systems, for example.

Presented at the recent Military Health System Research Symposium, the study looked at soldiers outfitted with small wearable blast gauges. The two-part study reviewed the gauge measurements during a single day of supervised training in heavy munitions including additional contextual metavariables and longitudinally during a three- to four-month training period.

The study then surveyed participants, asking troops' perceptions on blast overpressure and brain health.

One goal of the study was for the results to be included in service member medical records. Study participants who believed damage may have occurred to their brains and bodies from blast exposure would have proper documentation in their medical files.

One participant agreed on the need to address brain health and occupational exposure to blast overpressure, stating: "I hope the blast program is able to gather the impact that blasts are having on our bodies and brains, and hopefully use it to protect and innovate."

The next steps of the study included U.S. Marines at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California, and ran from July 6 to Oct. 28, 2022. The study compared their experiences and supported more broadly applicable recommendations.

Steve Jones, assigned to the DOD Health Affairs, and directly involved with determining how best to implement blast-overpressure monitoring across the DOD, said "similar to other operational and environmental exposures, monitoring blast over-pressure is a very important with regard to the health and readiness of the force, and to mitigating such exposures."

Warfighter Brain Health Initiative

The study is part of the DOD Warfighter Brain Health Initiative that follows a service members' brain condition from joining up to retirement. The idea is to gather data on brain health in training, deployment, garrisons, and off-duty sports.

"We want you in for the long haul, and we want you to have a highly functional and productive life when you leave the military," said Kathy Lee, lead for the WBHI for the office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs, in a recent interview.

The long-term data will help support the maximum number of healthy service members who are ready for deployment.

"A key part of the plan calls for ensuring that we're monitoring, through time, and having a spot check throughout the rest of a service member's career, to ensure that we're maximizing brain health," Lee explained, adding: "It gives us the opportunity to intervene."

"Marching this plan out, we wanted to ensure that cognition was front and center," Lee said. "Many times, when there's been some decrement in your testing of cognitive abilities, evaluating sleep health, mood, and looking at any lingering TBI symptoms ... can help improve and restore cognitive functioning."

'Culture Change in Leadership'

Lee said there's been a "culture change in leadership" in accepting the brain health concept that varies from the typical warfighter mindset. "I think that the environment has really seen that we've come up with a plan that's cogent; it's doable."

There also has been "more buy-in to the initiative" from listening to the concerns of those in the field across all services, Lee suggested. Many brain health actions and research were already well under way at the DOD on brain health prior to the actual plan published in August.

The Warfighter Brain Health Initiative lays out the action plan for the DOD. These are:

  • Enhance health and performance.
  • Optimize cognitive and physical performance.
  • Identify, monitor, and mitigate brain exposures.
  • Prevent, recognize, and minimize the effects of traumatic brain injury.
  • Reduce or eliminate long-term/late effects.
  • Advance warfighter brain health science.

Lee gave a preview of the Warfighter Brain Health Initiative last year at a speech before trauma nurses.

The military's brain health program "is wide and deep," and "rapid," she said, adding that in the next four years, "our goals and our strategies are to get really meaningful outcomes and changes related to the warfighter brain health plan."

You also may be interested in...

Blast Overpressure Research Brings NATO Group to DHHQ

Article
12/13/2022
Military personnel fire mortar rounds

DOD and NATO experts recently met to continue their work on warfighter brain health to protect soldiers from the overblast pressure of their weaponry.

DHA's E Caregiver Directory Puts Resources at Your Fingertips

Article
11/30/2022
Woman on left stretching her husband's left arm and right leg

Caregivers now have needed resources at their fingertips on their mobile phones, tablets, and computers.

A Retired Navy SEAL Discusses his TBI

Video
3/9/2022
A Retired Navy SEAL Discusses his TBI

Retired Navy SEAL Edward Rasmussen discusses his TBI, and urges others to seek treatment if they have symptoms. If you’re experiencing symptoms of TBI, visit health.mil/TBI to learn about the resources available to you.

One Airman's Recovery from TBI

Video
3/9/2022
One Airman's Recovery from TBI

After a motorcycle accident, Master Sergeant Stalnaker started having symptoms of traumatic brain injury, or TBI. He tells his story about his symptoms and his road to recovery from physical and emotional wounds as a result. If you’re experiencing symptoms of TBI, visit health.mil/TBI to learn about the resources available to you.

MHS Minute March 2021

Video
4/1/2021
MHS Minute March 2021

March marked Brain Injury Awareness month in the military. We're spotlighting efforts across the MHS to combat Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI), and better understand how TBI impacts our Service members. For more information about the National Intrepid Center of Excellence (NICoE), go to walterreed.tricare.mil/NICoE For more info on the Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence (TBICoE), go to Health.mil/TBICoE

DOD warfighter brain health draft plan has six priorities

Article
3/31/2021
Military medical personnel looking at a patient's brain scan

Cognitive testing documentation throughout a service member’s career and beyond is one of six major operational concerns and priorities of service members.

DHA Centers of Excellence collaborate to improve TBI care

Article
3/31/2021
Medical personnel holding a model of the inner ear

The centers of excellence are divisions of the Defense Health Agency Research and Development Directorate.

Five ways to keep your brain healthy

Article
3/30/2021
Infographic with five ways to keep your brain healthy

Five ways to keep your brain healthy

Intrepid Spirit Centers promote healing from traumatic brain injury

Article
3/30/2021
Military health personnel in physical therapy

Intrepid Spirit Centers help heal TBI service members’ brains with interdisciplinary program and model of care.

Visual dysfunctions common in even mild TBI patients

Article
3/30/2021
Military health personnel examining a picture of an eye

Vision Center of Excellence ocular medical specialists discuss visual dysfunctions resulting from TBI.

Women leaders say military health care offers limitless opportunities

Article
3/30/2021
Military personnel speaking through a microphone

Women military health leaders speak on way toward equity and limitless opportunities.

Historic observance celebrates the achievements of women

Article
3/25/2021
A flyer of three women in three separate pictures smiling

The DHA held a virtual observance—featuring a panel discussion on women’s history— in honor of Women’s History Month.

Course improves patient care by identifying cause of errors

Article
3/19/2021
Military Personnel wearing face mask and posing for a picture

Knowing where problems may arise ultimately results in higher quality of patient care.

DODs Patient Safety Program works to eliminate preventable harm

Article
3/18/2021
Picture of a vital sign machine

The Joint Patient Safety Reporting System and TeamSTEPPS play a major role in the DOD’s Patient Safety Program

Balancing rest, activity key to recovering from concussion

Article
3/17/2021
Two football teams facing off in the middle of a play

A newly revised suite of tools and resources for military health care providers will help improve the treatment of service members with concussions, and ensure their safe return to full duty.

Page 2 of 4 , showing items 16 - 30
First < 1 2 3 4 > Last 
Refine your search
Last Updated: November 18, 2022
Follow us on Instagram Follow us on LinkedIn Follow us on Facebook Follow us on Twitter Follow us on YouTube Sign up on GovDelivery