A Review of Central Nervous System (CNS)/Cognitive Effects Due to Blast

http://www.dtic.mil/cgi-bin/GetTRDoc?AD=ADA528766&Location=U2&doc=GetTRDoc.pdf

A Review of Central Nervous System (CNS)/Cognitive Effects Due to Blast
Rigby, Paul, H.: Chan, Philemon, C.

AFRL-RH-BR-TR-2007-0072


An extensive literature review of central nervous system (CNS)/cognitive effects due to blast overpressure has been performed to support the assessment of human effects due to flashbang devices. Epidemiology and laboratory data have shown evidence that correlates CNS injuries to blast, but the primary mechanism of injury on the gross and molecular level is not understood. Laboratory data have suggested blast induced brain injuries have similarities to traumatic brain injuries (TBI). Full body blast test animals have shown an increase in certain molecules linked with nerve cell apoptosis and cognition dysfunction. Data also suggest blast overpressure can cause adverse cognitive effects resulting in executive deficit similar to that produced in other TBI models. Long term cognitive effects of blast include disturbances in attention and memory, and a delayed reaction time in problem solving. Veterans returning with blast injury also exhibit post concussion symptoms similar to those seen in other forms of TBI. Since the mechanism relating blast and cognitive deficit is not known, the authors recommend that an effort should characterize of CNS/cognitive effects due to blast since potential CNS injuries must be taken seriously, and data suggest a correlation between blast and cognitive effects.