Publications
Obesity Worsens GWI-related Gastrointestinal Inflammation
Utilizing a mouse model of GWI, this study examines the impact of obesity on GWI-related gastrointestinal (GI) inflammation through microbial analysis. The research also addresses the gut-brain connection, and how GI and neuronal inflammation provide increased risk of cognitive deficiencies.
Plasma Autoantibodies as a Diagnostic Tool for GWI
This study, featured on the cover of this issue of the Brain Sciences journal, puts forth groundbreaking implications for diagnosing Gulf War Illness (GWI). Adding to the frustration of GWI, is the fact that to date, there isn't an objective tool for diagnosis. Findings of this research revealed significant elevation... More
Health Status Progression in Ft. Devens Cohort
The Gulf War research team at VA Boston Healthcare System examined the health trajectories of veterans of the Ft. Devens Cohort over the past 25+ years. Tracking health symptoms from the time they returned from deployment, to date, revealed significant increase in 12 different symptoms (since prior surveys in 1997-1998).
Chemical Weapons Exposure & mTBI: Imaging in Veterans with GWI
High-order diffusion MRI has previously been shown the ability discriminate between different stages of neuroinflammatory signaling. Applying an innovative method, known as Neurite density imaging, (to high-order difussion MRI), researchers confirmed its ability to accurately distinguish between veterans with and without GWI. Looking specifically at the effects of chemical/biological weapons exposures... More
Exposures as Initiating Factors in GWI
This review presents the most recent literature on exposures as a foundation for Gulf War Illness. Current research implicates Acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (AChEIs) as a key contributor to the development of GWI.
Imaging of Neuroinflammation in Veterans with Gulf War Illness
This study utilized Positron Emission Tomography (PET) to examine neuroinflammatory markers in Gulf War veterans. The findings of this study support further investigation into the role of neuroinflammation in Gulf War Illness.
Assessment of Health Symptoms Over Time in Relation to Neurotoxicant Exposures in 1991 Gulf War
Longitudinal Assessment of Health Symptoms in Relation to Neurotoxicant Exposures in 1991 Gulf War Veterans was published in the The Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. This study, done in collaboration by researchers at the VA Boston Healthcare System, US Army Research Institute of Environmental Medicine, and Boston University's schools... More
Gulf War Women’s Health Cohort
Experts in the field of Gulf War Illness (GWI) sought to fill the gap in the body of research specific to women veterans, which lead to the development of the Gulf War Women's Cohort (GWWC). Existing research suggests that GWI is more common in female GW veterans than their male... More
Gulf War Veterans “Aging” Faster.
The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health featured Gulf War Research as their March 2019 cover story. BUSPH's Dr. Kimberly Sullivan, explains that many Gulf War Veterans are displaying "accelerated aging," presenting with chronic conditions at rates usually associated with those 10 years their senior. Clara Zundel, lead author and... More
Acupuncture as Treatment for GWI
The New England School of Acupuncture (Newton, MA) conducted the study, The Effectiveness of Individualized Acupuncture Protocols in the Treatment of Gulf War Illness: A Pragmatic Randomized Clinical Trial, in collaboration with Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (Boston, MA). This research found that acupuncture treatment of sufficient dose appears to... More