Military Brain Injuries are the Subject of Center for Neurological Studies "Hope After Combat" Study

NOVI, Mich., Aug. 3, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Thousands of military men and women involved in the long raging war in the Middle East have arrived home suffering from undiagnosed traumatic brain injuries, the "invisible wound" of battle.  These injuries can lead to stress, depression, insomnia, alcoholism, substance abuse and, all too often, suicide.

Center for Neurological Studies (CNS), a Novi-based non-profit, has launched "Hope After Combat," an in-depth study combining ten diagnostic testing disciplines to diagnose and develop individualized treatment for veterans with brain injuries.

"Any attempt to treat veterans with traumatic brain injuries begins with an accurate diagnosis," says Randall Benson, M.D., CNS Vice President and Medical Director.  "Combat injuries are frequently mis-diagnosed resulting in inappropriate and unsuccessful treatment.  We can and must do better.  Better diagnoses lead to improved outcomes."

Hope After Combat combines diagnostic testing including neurology, neuro-opthalmology and neuropsychology enhanced by CNS' advanced magnetic resonance imaging techniques (MRI), diffusion tensor imaging and susceptibility-weighted imaging. These advanced MRI techniques developed at CNS are significantly more sensitive than traditional MRI imaging and have worked successfully on hundreds of non-combat brain-injury victims. 

In the Hope After Combat study, once diagnostic testing is complete a treatment plan is developed and the veteran takes part in an individualized 60-day rehabilitation program based on his or her specific diagnosis.  All disciplines continue to provide input and care for the victim and his/her family.  The final study is expected to include more than 50 combat victims.

"These veterans and their families are desperate for answers and we're trying to provide them," says John D. Russell, CEO and President of CNS.  "The veterans have been real troopers in every sense of the word and we're learning from their individual efforts and progress.  But our donors are the ones who've made the study possible.  Without them we couldn't bring all these disciplines together for such an important study."

For further information or to participate in or make a contribution to the Hope After Combat study, contact John Russell at 313-228-0930 or visit the CNS website, http://neurologicstudies.com

CNS was founded in 2011 with the objective of advancing scientific research for neurovascular disease.  CNS staff are available for interview on brain injuries and brain-related diseases. 

SOURCE Center for Neurological Studies

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