What is Gulf War Syndrome?

5. 2007 Study and First Proof

Roberta White, Ph.D., of Boston University School of Public Health and colleagues, wrote in 2007 that Gulf War veterans who returned with multiple symptoms of Gulf War Syndrome had significant differences in their brain structures than their fellow veterans who returned.  Of the 36 veterans in the study, five exhibited more than five symptoms while the rest had less than five. Among other symptoms, they reported difficulty concentrating, nausea, skin rash, headaches, forgetfulness, fatigue and joint pain.

Dr. White wrote that the two regions of the brain involved with memory and thought were smaller in those with over five symptoms. In fact, the overall cortex was 5% smaller, and the rostral anterior cingulate gyrus was 6% smaller.

"We don't know the cause of these differences in the veterans' brain volumes, but the hypothesis is that they are related to exposure to hazardous substances during the first Gulf War. Many troops were exposed to hazardous substances such as pesticides, and other studies have shown that exposures to these substances affect the central nervous system." Dr. White when presenting her findings. The study conclusively proved Gulf War Syndrome for the first time.

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