Neurological Biomarker Profiles in Canadian Air Force Pilots
Author Information
Author(s): Rhind Shawn G., Shiu Maria Y., Vartanian Oshin, Allen Shamus, Palmer Miriam, Ramirez Joel, Gao Fuqiang, Scott Christopher J. M., Homes Meissa F., Gray Gary, Black Sandra E., Saary Joan
Primary Institution: Defence Research and Development–Toronto Research Centre
Hypothesis
This study aimed to investigate the levels of neurological biomarkers in military aviators to assess the potential risk of long-term brain injury and neurodegeneration.
Conclusion
Military aviators are at increased risk for neurobiological injury, including glial and axonal damage, oxidative stress, and early neurodegeneration.
Supporting Evidence
- The aviators exhibited significantly elevated levels of GFAP, NF-L, PRDX-6, and T-tau compared to the controls.
- Trends toward higher levels of S100b, NSE, and UCH-L1 were observed but were not statistically significant.
- The elevated biomarker levels suggest cumulative brain damage, raising concerns about potential long-term neurological impairments.
Takeaway
This study found that pilots have higher levels of certain brain injury markers, which means they might be at risk for brain problems from flying.
Methodology
This cross-sectional study involved 48 Canadian Armed Forces aviators and 48 non-aviator controls, analyzing plasma samples for various neurological biomarkers.
Potential Biases
Potential confounding factors include prior concussions and other physical stressors that may influence biomarker levels.
Limitations
The cross-sectional design limits causal inference, and the lack of direct correlations between biomarker levels and cognitive performance data restricts understanding of functional impairments.
Participant Demographics
All participants were non-smoking males with a mean age of 39 years.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.001
Statistical Significance
p<0.001
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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