VA’s Office of Research and Development has released three groundbreaking news briefs showcasing significant research breakthroughs. The first brief highlights a brain-computer interface (BCI) developed by a team that included a Providence VA researcher, allowing an ALS patient to speak instantly with intonation. This innovation demonstrates the potential for BCIs to restore natural speech to individuals unable to communicate due to disease or paralysis.
The second brief reveals that suicidal behavior varies greatly across different regions of the United States. A study conducted by the VA Rocky Mountain Mental Illness Research, Education, and Clinical Center for Suicide Prevention (MIRECC) found that the Western region had the highest rates of post-military suicidal ideation, while the Pacific islands reported the highest rates of past-year suicidal ideation and lifetime suicide attempts.
The third brief explores the link between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and hypertension in male Veterans. Research conducted by VA scientists from Boston, Palo Alto, and Seattle found that PTSD was a significant risk factor for hypertension among older male Vietnam Era Veterans, but not among female Veterans. The study suggests that biological differences may protect female Veterans from this risk.
These research advances underscore the importance of continued investment in understanding Veterans’ unique health challenges and developing targeted interventions to address them.
Source: https://news.va.gov/140967/research-wrap-up-brain-computer-hypertension