Older Veterans and Dementia, Alzheimer’s Disease (Research, Video 4:47)

As more research continues in the area of dementia, health consequences of environmental exposures during military service become more evident. Older veterans display long-term health risks associated with military service. Military risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease include tobacco use, traumatic brain injury (TBI), depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) obesity, and obesity-related diseases. The degree of combat exposure, Vietnam era Agent Orange exposure, and Gulf War Illness may also influence risk for Alzheimer’s disease

Research on veterans and Alzheimer’s disease reports conservative estimates of 423,000 new cases of Alzheimer’s disease in veterans by 2020, including 140,000 excess cases associated with specific military exposures that will cost approximately $5.8 billion to $7.8 billion. Programs focused on decreasing these risk factors and lowering rates of Alzheimer’s decease in veterans in the future are greatly needed.

New research shows a link between older veterans who had a traumatic brain injury and an increased risk of dementia. This CBS video features Dr. Jennifer Ashton profiling a young Afghanistan veteran named Nick Colgin.  The connection between dementia, Alzheimer's disease and traumatic brain injury (TBI) in veterans is explained.

Frances Shani Parker, Author

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