What is Gulf War Syndrome?

4. Proof of Gulf War Syndrome Part 2

In the first cognitive testing of the 18 who felt more pain, the researchers observed the scans and found that they used the basal ganglia region of the brain more as compensation. However, after the physical stress test, they couldn't use it after the physical stress was applied.

In the other group of 10, the cognitive testing saw their heart rates rise during the cognitive testing. And each showed atrophy in the brain stem which regulates heartbeat.  The researchers concluded that each group lost its compensatory ability following the different test as the other and each had damage to a separate area of the brain. The control group showed no change in symptoms after exercise, cognitive testing or brain structure.

The paper's author wrote of his findings, "The use of other brain areas to compensate for a damaged area is seen in other disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease, which is why we believe our data show that these veterans are suffering from central nervous system dysfunction."

Evgeny Gromov / Getty Images