Operation Brainstorm

For Veterans who served in combat, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) may occur from any event that impacts the head, such as blast exposures, motor vehicle crashes, falls, or being hit by flying debris. The severity of TBI may range from mild to moderate to severe. Veterans with more severe TBI are at greater risk for long term complications.

The Vietnam Head Injury Study (VHIS) examined over 1,000 veterans with TBI between 1967-1970 while serving in Vietnam. VHIS is instrumental in extending the field of TBI research and in uncovering medical and social issues affecting those with TBI. The results of the study provides clinicians and scientists with insights into the long-term recovery of function following TBI, the role of the prefrontal cortex in executive functions, better predictors of long-term outcomes (including cognitive, neurological, and genetic factors), and the effects of head injury incurred in youth on aging and the development of dementia.

In recent years, the Afghan and Iraq Wars have increased the prevalence of migraine disease and headache disorders in veterans returning to the United States. In one study, over 3,000 U.S. soldiers screened within 90 days of returning from a one-year combat tour in Iraq, soldiers were shown to have two to four times the incidence rate of migraine as compared to the general population.

This research and more like it has validated that men and women in the military are returning to civilian life experiencing migraine headaches due to conditions like TBI and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Poorly managed migraine translates to a potentially huge impact on a patient’s quality of life—from missed or non-productive workdays to lost family and personal time.

Operation Brainstorm will reach these men and women who served our country and provide resources to improve their care journey.