Help for Brain Injuries, Post-traumatic Stress

The Pentagon is spending about $300 million this summer on research for post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury, two of the most prevalent injuries of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. USA Today reported Aug. 5 that this amount is the most ever put forth in one year by the government for this purpose. The money will fund 171 research projects, including developing new medications, studying ways of regenerating damaged brain cells, designing an eyeglasses-like device to detect brain injury through eye movement, and coming up with new ways to deliver therapy to PTSD victims living in remote part of the US, the newspaper reported. Already one half of the $300 million has been distributed, and all will be paid out by Sept. 30, according to the newspaper. Civilians suffering from these conditions are also expected to benefit directly from the military studies.