VA Research Highlights: Suicide Prevention, Blast Exposure & Lymphoma Treatment
Recent research from the department of Veterans Affairs is yielding promising results in several key areas of Veteran health. Here’s a look at recent findings from the VA Office of Research and Development:
Telehealth Improves Access to Suicide Prevention Therapy
A study by VA’s Office of Suicide prevention demonstrated the effectiveness of the Suicide Prevention 2.0 Clinical Telehealth Program. Over 2,700 Veterans participated in approximately nine sessions of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Suicide Prevention (CBT-SP) delivered via telehealth over three months. Results showed significant improvements in Veterans’ coping skills,reduction in depressive symptoms,increased self-efficacy,and decreased suicidal thoughts and hopelessness. CBT-SP is a proven suicide prevention treatment, but limited availability of trained clinicians has historically been a barrier to access. This telehealth program offers a practical solution to reach more Veterans in need. (Source: Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41059601/)
Low-Level Blast Exposure Linked to Gut Permeability & Cognitive Issues
Researchers at the James J. Peters VA Medical Center in New York have found a potential link between low-level blast exposure – specifically during mortar fire training – and increased intestinal permeability, frequently enough referred to as “leaky gut.” The study involved 22 service members exposed to mortar fire during a 3-month training period, compared to a control group of nine. Blood samples and cognitive assessments revealed that blast exposure substantially increased biomarkers indicating intestinal permeability. Service members exhibiting these biomarkers also experienced declines in cognitive function,including dizziness and difficulty concentrating. Notably, those with a history of mild traumatic brain injury showed even greater increases in intestinal permeability biomarkers. These findings suggest a connection between blast exposure, gut health, and cognitive performance. (Source: Military Medicine – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41048049/)
Alpha-Ketoglutarate Shows Promise in Lymphoma Treatment
Researchers at South Texas VA have identified alpha-ketoglutarate, a naturally occurring dietary supplement, as a potential treatment for B cell lymphoma, a type of blood cancer.In studies with mice, administering the compound led to a rapid and sustained reduction in energy available to cancer cells, without causing any observed adverse health effects.The supplement works by reducing the amino acids available to cancer cells, effectively starving them of the energy needed for growth and replication. While further research is needed to determine it’s efficacy in humans, these findings represent a promising new avenue for lymphoma prevention and treatment. (Source: Blood – https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40700634/)
For more information on these and other research updates, please visit the VA office of Research and Development website at https://www.research.va.gov/ or https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/.