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The Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment in a Convenience Sample of 202 Gulf War Veterans

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  • Linda L. Chao

    (Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
    Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Science, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
    San Francisco Veterans Affairs Health Care System, San Francisco, CA 94121, USA)

Abstract

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic, multisymptom disorder estimated to affect approximately 25–32% of Gulf War veterans (GWVs). Cognitive dysfunction is a common symptom of GWI. On the continuum of cognitive decline, mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is conceptualized as a transitional phase between normal aging and dementia. Individuals with MCI exhibit cognitive decline but have relatively spared activities of daily function and do not meet criteria for dementia. The current study sought to investigate the prevalence of MCI in a convenience sample of 202 GWVs (median age: 52 years; 18% female). Twelve percent of the sample (median age: 48 years) had MCI according to an actuarial neuropsychological criterion, a rate materially higher than expected for this age group. GWVs with MCI also had a smaller hippocampal volume and a thinner parietal cortex, higher rates of current posttraumatic stress disorder and major depressive disorder compared to GWVs without MCI. Because people with MCI are more likely to progress to dementia compared to those with normal cognition, these results may portend future higher rates of dementia among deployed GWVs.

Suggested Citation

  • Linda L. Chao, 2020. "The Prevalence of Mild Cognitive Impairment in a Convenience Sample of 202 Gulf War Veterans," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-20, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:19:p:7158-:d:421812
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Patricia A Janulewicz & Maxine H Krengel & Alexis Maule & Roberta F White & Joanna Cirillo & Emily Sisson & Timothy Heeren & Kimberly Sullivan, 2017. "Neuropsychological characteristics of Gulf War illness: A meta-analysis," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(5), pages 1-19, May.
    2. Clara G. Zundel & Maxine H. Krengel & Timothy Heeren & Megan K. Yee & Claudia M. Grasso & Patricia A. Janulewicz Lloyd & Steven S. Coughlin & Kimberly Sullivan, 2019. "Rates of Chronic Medical Conditions in 1991 Gulf War Veterans Compared to the General Population," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-16, March.
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