Mystery of Gulf War Syndrome Finally Solved by Immunologists

Scientists may have solved a decades-old mystery by discovering the likely cause of a disease that affects one in three veterans who served in the Gulf War. The discovery offers hope to the hundreds of veterans who suffer from Gulf War Illness by opening a potential avenue for future therapies and symptom relief.

The Gulf War was an international conflict in 1990 and 1991 that was sparked by the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in 1990. Nearly one million military personnel from 41 different countries took part in the fighting, during which they were exposed to a range of chemical and biological warfare agents.

In 1994, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) launched an investigation after an influx of reports from Gulf War veterans of unexplained illness. Symptoms included recurring skin rashes, diarrhea, muscle pain, cognitive problems and fatigue.

Thirty years later, there are still several unanswered questions about the so-called Gulf War Illness, although many scientists agree that the disease likely resulted from exposure to a combination of biological and chemical warfare agents and other environmental hazards from the war-torn region.

Scientists from Griffiths University have now identified for the first time a biological mechanism that could be responsible for the mysterious disease.

In a study published in the journal PLOS Onethe research team said that molecules involved in transporting calcium into our cells were defective in veterans with Gulf War Illness. Calcium plays a crucial role in cellular signaling, helping to regulate a range of essential functions including muscle contraction, nerve function and hormone secretion.

“This discovery is a significant step forward in understanding this perplexing and complex disease,” study author Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik, professor and director of the National Centre for Neuroimmunology and Emerging Diseases at Griffith University, said in a statement.

Previous studies have shown a clear link between environmental toxins and damage to these calcium-transporting structures, such as biological and chemical weapons.

“The findings of our study provide clear scientific evidence that the health problems experienced by Gulf War veterans can be directly linked to their exposure to specific hazardous substances during their service,” Marshall-Gradisnik said. “Our research clearly shows that cellular structures in the human body are sensitive and vulnerable to these substances, leading to defective cell function.”

By improving our understanding of the biochemical basis of the disease, researchers hope to soon develop effective treatments to cure or at least manage the symptoms of Gulf War Illness.

“This breakthrough in understanding the cause of Gulf War Illness offers researchers hope to develop new treatments to improve the future of our veterans,” Marshall-Gradisnik said.

Ian Allwood, a Gulf War veteran and Gulf War Illness advocate in Australia, said he was very grateful for the research. “To be believed means the world to us,” he said in a statement. “This research is life-changing for Gulf War veterans.

“For those in the veteran community who are suffering, this is the first step in identifying a causative factor. This is groundbreaking research that will hopefully open pathways to treatment for the often debilitating symptoms.”

Is there a health issue that you are concerned about? Do you have a question about Gulf War Illness? Let us know at [email protected]. We can consult experts and your story can be featured in Newsweek.