Traumatic brain injury (TBI) caused by improvised explosive devices and other military-related incidents are a significant issue for both active military personnel and veterans. These wounds can lead to chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or CTE, a degenerative brain disorder caused by repeated head trauma.
While CTE is often associated with contact sports such as football and hockey, it also affects military personnel exposed to blasts. It causes cognitive, emotional and behavioral issues such as memory loss, depression, mood swings and, in severe cases, early onset dementia. Tragically, some individuals with CTE have taken their own lives due to its emotional and psychological effects.
Enter the Concussion Legacy Foundation (www.concussionfoundation.ca). Its mission includes advancing scientific studies on CTE, raising awareness and pushing for policy changes to protect those at risk. Much work, however, remains to be done.
One of the foundation’s key initiatives is Project Enlist, which aims to advance research on veterans with TBI, CTE and post-traumatic stress disorder. Since the understandings of these issues are still in the early stages, the program encourages individuals to donate their brains for research, particularly as CTE can only be diagnosed posthumously through an autopsy. Doing so can contribute to vital studies that will help improve the diagnosis and treatments for veterans. To learn more or donate, visit www.projectenlist.ca.
Service members diagnosed with brain injuries deserve support for their sacrifices to Canada. The Royal Canadian Legion urges serving members and veterans to contact a Legion service officer for assistance with any disability claims to Veterans Affairs Canada related to such wounds. Call 1-866-534-4666 or email veteransservices@legion.ca.
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