Noteboom The Law Firm

PTSD May Affect Brain Activity in Aging Veterans

A recent study comparing combat veterans suffering post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) to veteran without PTSD discovered those with PTSD were more likely to suffer later in life from:

• structural brain damage;
• cardiac problems; and/or
• dementia.

The study painted a somewhat bleak picture for aging veterans. At the same time, however, it tends to give hope to the possibility of being able to treat those veterans with such debilitating mental diseases as PTSD.

At least 400,000 soldiers and veterans have developed PTSD, which is about 20% of the veteran population from Iraq and Afghanistan. The research indicated PTSD exacerbates physical illnesses, such as cancer and heart disease, otherwise developed by the person with PTSD.

Veterans with PTSD are twice as likely as veterans without PTSD to develop heart disease. These are veterans who do not already suffer from heart disease.

That PTSD can have long-term, negative effects on a person's health is not surprising. Now researchers are finding a way to use the connection between the two to develop treatment options for those in need. 

If you are a disabled veteran who has been denied disability compensation or have not yet applied for benefits from the VA, a South Florida disability attorney from LaVan & Neidenberg is ready to help. To learn if you are entitled to certain programs and benefits contact our veterans disability rights firm today - 1-888-234-5758.