Category Archives: Government/Research

VA’s MDMA Trial Offers New Hope, Particularly for the Brain Injured

On May 26, 2026, the VA announced a clinical trial to test MDMA-assisted therapy for veterans battling PTSD and alcohol use disorder. The study, which began enrollment quietly on May 18, is one of 19 psychedelic trials the VA is funding through $23 million in external grants, enrolling approximately 80 veterans at facilities in Providence, Rhode Island, and West Haven, Connecticut, with results expected in May 2030.

The trial will study the safety and effectiveness of MDMA-assisted therapy to address conditions that do not fully respond to standard treatments. For those living with traumatic brain injury, the treatment’s benefit may be significant. Research shows that patients with head injuries are more likely to develop PTSD than those without a TBI history. Studies confirm that veterans with probable TBI have 1.72 times greater odds of developing PTSD.

“This trial represents an important step in safely evaluating new approaches and innovations to treat Veterans with severe mental health conditions,” said VA Secretary Doug Collins. For the hundreds of thousands of veterans carrying both a damaged brain and a traumatized mind, it may represent something even more profound: a second chance at healing.

Another Study Links TBI & PTSD to Cognitive Decline – But Not Through Brain Plaques

A study published May 30, 2026, in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease is reshaping how researchers understand cognitive decline in combat veterans. Using data from the Department of Defense’s Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative, USC researchers examined how TBI and PTSD affect brain imaging markers and cognition in a U.S. veteran population.

Brain imaging results and cognitive test data assessing memory and executive function in veterans

The study found that greater PTSD symptom severity was linked to poorer performance across all three cognitive tests used, and higher TBI severity correlated with lower scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination. What is striking about these findings is that they did not show that TBI severity nor PTSD symptoms were associated with neuroimaging biomarkers of neurodegeneration or vascular damage.

This discovery suggests that cognitive impairment in veterans may not stem directly from the accumulation of Alzheimer’s pathologies or vascular injuries. This matters enormously for treatment. It suggests veterans’ cognitive struggles may require targeted interventions beyond standard dementia pathways – a finding directly relevant to legislative reauthorizing of funding for federal TBI surveillance and research programs.

FDA Fast-Tracks Bayer’s Prescription Protection Against Secondary Stroke

Modern Bayer U.S. headquarters building with glass windows and flags outside

Bayer’s OCEANIC-STROKE trial found asundexian cut recurrent ischemic stroke, secondary stroke, by 26% without significantly raising bleeding risk, revealed a study, published April 15, 2026. After these encouraging study results, on May 19, 2026, Bayer announced the U.S. Food and Drug Administration granted priority review for asundexian, an investigational once-daily pill, for patients following a non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke* or transient ischemic attack**.

Stroke is an acquired brain injury and surviving one does not eliminate the danger. The CDC estimates stroke costs the U.S. $56.2 billion annually, straining Medicare and Medicaid. Federal programs like Million Hearts, co-led by CDC and CMS, reflect Washington’s focus on this crisis.”Secondary stroke remains a serious and persistent challenge, and the FDA’s Priority Review designation underscores the urgency of advancing potential new approaches,” said Yesmean Wahdan, M.D., of U.S. Medical Affairs at Bayer. Affecting roughly one in ten survivors within one year, a secondary stroke occurs when the same underlying conditions that caused the first, such as arterial damage and clot formation, go unresolved. Recurrences are often more severe, causing greater disability or death.

Reserved for treatments that could improve care for serious conditions, the designation accelerates the FDA’s review from ten months to six.

*Per NIH: A non-cardioembolic ischemic stroke occurs when a blood clot blocks an artery supplying blood to the brain, but the clot originates locally (e.g., from narrowed neck arteries or plaque rupture) rather than traveling from the heart.

**Per NIH: A transient ischemic attack (TIA) is a medical emergency. It is defined as a transient episode of neurologic dysfunction due to the focal brain, spinal cord, or retinal ischemia without acute infarction or tissue injury. 

Rethinking Fish Oil

Bottle of Nature's Harvest Pure Omega-3 fish oil softgels with some capsules spilled on the counter

For years, fish oil has been championed as a go-to supplement for brain health, with athletes, military veterans, and concussion patients reaching for it as a matter of routine. But a landmark 2026 study by researchers at the Medical University of South Carolina, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, and Boston University is casting serious doubt on that assumption.

The issue is EPA, which is one of the two major omega-3 fatty acids in most fish oil supplements. Researchers found that EPA may disrupt the brain’s natural blood-vessel repair process after repeated head injuries, and elevated EPA levels were also detected in postmortem CTE brain tissue. Crucially, DHA, the other primary omega-3, showed no such harmful effect.

Adding to the concern are the results of a separate 2026 study using the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. This cohort independently linked omega-3 supplement use to faster cognitive decline in older adults.

Researchers are careful to stress these findings don’t make fish oil universally dangerous. The message, however, is clear: for anyone with a history of head trauma, a conversation with your doctor is now essential before continuing supplementation.

Omega-3 May Help Aggression After Brain Injury

Amber bottle containing 120 Omega-3 fish oil softgels with white cap

For those with traumatic brain injury (TBI), aggression is a medical consequence, not a character flaw. The National Library of Medicine’s PubMed database documents aggression in up to 28% of severe TBI survivors within three months of injury, while research from the Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center notes that up to 75% experience significant irritability. Damage to the prefrontal cortex, which is the brain’s critical impulse regulator, is a primary driver of these behavioral changes.

New research offers a promising nutritional direction. A University of Pennsylvania meta-analysis, available on PubMed and re-amplified by ScienceAlert in May 2026, reviewed 28 randomized controlled trials with 3,918 participants and found omega-3* supplementation reduced aggression by up to 28%. Lead researcher Adrian Raine concluded, “I think the time has come to implement omega-3 supplementation to reduce aggression, irrespective of whether the setting is the community, the clinic, or the criminal justice system.”

The biology is persuasive. DHA, the dominant omega-3 in brain tissue, concentrates in the prefrontal cortex – precisely the region TBI disrupts most – while EPA suppresses the neuroinflammatory cascade that worsens secondary injury. No TBI-specific clinical trial has yet directly targeted post-injury aggression as a primary outcome, but for survivors, omega-3 offers a low-risk, evidence-informed complement to existing care.

*Previous articles on TBIontheHill have noted additional benefits of Omega-3. Cherry-Picking Superfoods to Aid TBI Recovery (3/13/26) reported, “A cherry-chocolate brain smoothie is a good snack (tart cherries blended with cocoa powder, spinach, chia seeds, and almond milk) that delivers anthocyanins and omega-3s in one glass.” A Broader View of Diet’s Role in TBI Recovery (10/3/25) noted, “fruits, vegetables, healthy fats, and omega-3 fatty acids… These dietary interventions offer hope for… improving neurological outcomes without pharmaceutical interventions.”

Laughter May Be the Brain’s Best Medicine

Man and woman laughing with a therapy dog wearing a Doctor Bark vest

After a car accident in 2023, the therapists of a brain injured 19-year-old Kansas teen had an unconventional tool ready: dad jokes. The groan-worthy punchlines weren’t just comic relief, they were medicine. And a growing body of science backs that up.

Research indexed in the National Library of Medicine confirms that laughter triggers real, measurable changes in the injured brain. A 2023 PLOS ONE meta-analysis found that a single bout of spontaneous laughter slashes cortisol, the body’s chief stress hormone, by up to 36.7%. Since high cortisol after TBI is linked to poorer survival outcomes, anything that lessens it matters enormously. A 2017 PET-imaging study in the Journal of Neuroscience showed that laughing with others floods the brain’s reward centers with natural opioids, promoting calm and connection.

New 2026 research adds another dimension. A comprehensive neurodevelopmental analysis published in May 2026 found that processing humor is genuinely cognitively demanding – activating working memory and the frontal lobes in ways that stimulate neuroplasticity, essentially giving the recovering brain a workout. Separately, a University of Vienna brain-scanning study published in January 2026 in Frontiers in Neuroscience, and available in the National Library of Medicine database, found that laughter behavior directly predicted bonding, pro-sociality, and social liking between people – outcomes that matter deeply to TBI survivors rebuilding their lives.

As vis turns out, the best medicine may truly be free.

When the Vault Goes Wrong: Pole Vaulting and the Risk of Brain Injury

A student athlete from Eastlake North High School in Ohio is recovering after sustaining a brain injury during a pole vault event at a track meet at Mayfield High School. According to reports and community updates, the student athlete’s pole broke while he was vaulting at maximum height. He fell straight down and struck his head on the vault box, a metal plant box that holds the pole.

Female athlete in a blue and yellow uniform vaulting over a high bar with pole during a track and field event

Outdoor track and field is the most popular sport for girls at the high school level, with 513,808 participants in 2024–25, and participation on the boys’ side surged to 644,235 athletes during that time period. Recently, social media and sports streaming platforms have also enhanced pole vaulting’s visibility, which has attracted new entrants and expanding its base.

Despite its appeal, pole vaulting carries serious risks. A 2001 NIH-indexed study in the American Journal of Sports Medicine reviewed 32 catastrophic pole vault injuries reported between 1982 and 1998, finding that all occurred at an average age of 17.5 years, with 31 being catastrophic head injuries. Three means of injury dominated: athletes landing with their body on the pad but their head striking surrounding hard ground, missing the pad entirely, and prematurely releasing the pole. A 2012 follow-up study, also indexed on PubMed, found that from 2003 to 2011, 19 catastrophic injuries occurred. Averaging 2.1 per year, it was reported that 74% of these injuries involved athletes landing in or around the vault box, with 58% resulting in major head injuries.

Rule changes in 2003 by the NCAA, NFHS [National Federation of State High School Associations], and USA Track and Field – including enlarged landing pad dimensions – led to an 88% reduction in catastrophic injuries, with no fatalities reported since. Still, risks remain. Athletes can reduce injury risk by using properly rated poles, training under certified coaches, and considering ASTM [American Society for Testing and Materials]-certified helmets. Recent 2026 NFHS rule changes also clarified that padding requirements now apply to raised concrete or platform extensions above ground level that pose injury risks during falls.

The Eastlake North case is a reminder that even with two decades of safety improvements, more must be done to protect young athletes who soar.

Shocking Vagus Nerve Stimulation Could Rewire the Injured Brain

Diagram of vagus nerve stimulation therapy including brainstem, vagus nerve, implanted pulse generator, heart, lungs, esophagus, and diaphragm

In 2025, the New York Times reported on a neuroscientist who has likened the vagus nerve to “a brake system in your car.” A May 18, 2026 New York Times piece, though, explored whether vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) can genuinely improve health or is simply a “scam”. This has brought renewed attention to a therapy that researchers have been quietly refining for decades; as the vagus nerve, a sprawling cranial nerve connecting the brain to major organs, has become one of neuroscience’s most compelling therapeutic targets, particularly in brain injury recovery.

Researchers in various institutions have demonstrated a direct connection between the VNS and the brain’s learning centers. Almost 4 years ago, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus findings discovered that this connection may lead to treatments improving cognitive retention in both healthy and injured nervous systems. Senior author Cristin Welle, Ph.D., stated: “We concluded that there is a direct connection between the vagus nerve, the cholinergic system that regulates certain aspects of brain function, and motor cortex neurons that are essential in learning new skills.” A 2025 observational study available in the NIH database, and published in Frontiers in Neurology, found that non-invasive VNS was associated with reduced neuroinflammation and recovery in patients with mild traumatic brain injury experiencing persistent post-concussion symptoms.

VNS is also established as a treatment for drug-resistant epilepsy, a condition that can follow traumatic brain injury. However, a 2026 review drawing on PubMed data found that airway-related side effects such as hoarseness, cough, and shortness of breath were the most common reactions, with most resolving after adjustments to stimulation settings. A 2025 meta-analysis confirmed that complications from implanted VNS are generally mild and transient, with adverse events decreasing over time. Researchers continue urging caution, noting that larger randomized trials are still needed before VNS becomes a standard of care for brain injury rehabilitation.

NE Joins States to Promote Veteran Brain Injury Bill – Congress Has Run Out of Excuses

Legislative Resolution 314 on hyperbaric oxygen therapy with Nebraska Capitol building in background

On April 9, 2026, Nebraska’s Legislature passed Legislative Resolution 293 in a 43-0 vote, making it the 14th state – alongside Oklahoma, Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, Arizona, Florida, North Carolina, Wyoming, Maryland, Virginia, North Dakota, Tennessee and Missouri – to formally urge Congress to expand treatment access for veterans suffering from traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder, one of the most pressing issues facing American veterans.

Introduced by Nebraska State Senator Kathleen Kauth, the resolution, “[urges] the United States Congress to swiftly enact legislation to provide for veterans’ access to treatments for traumatic brain injury (TBI) and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).”

In particular, states’ resolutions seek to encourage Congress to move forward on hyperbaric oxygen therapy. “A 4-week course of HBOT may alleviate depressive symptoms in PTSD patients, an effect associated with increased serum BDNF and β-NGF levels,” according to a 2026 study, available to view on the NLM database. The United States loses more than 17 veterans per day to suicide, with TBI and PTSD among the leading contributing factors.

Now that 14 states are aligned behind this legislation, the pressure on Congress to act is mounting.

Hidden Price of a Cruise: Hantavirus’ Effect on the Brain

A cruise though the South Atlantic sounds like a dream vacation, but for eighteen Americans, the trip ended as a nightmare. After MV Hondius returned to the United States on May 11, two passengers were placed in biocontainment units because they had developed Andes virus, a strain of the hantavirus. The World Health Organization confirmed this, with eight cases and three deaths reported as of May 8.

In relation to the neurological effects of the virus, hantavirus pulmonary syndrome invades the brain indirectly. Drawing on cases traceable to the 1993 American Southwest outbreak and documented in NLM PubMed literature as far back as 1998, the Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society found that hantavirus pulmonary syndrome survivors exhibited cognitive impairments immediately after acute hospitalization and again at a one-year follow-up, with memory deficits resembling those seen in patients who have suffered brain anoxia, starving the brain of oxygen in a way that mirrors traumatic anoxic injury. Some research also suggests the virus may damage the blood-brain barrier, producing CNS symptoms including headache, insomnia, and vertigo, though this remains incompletely understood. Lasting effects include fatigue, memory loss, and attentional deficits.

Treatment mirrors the approach taken with other forms of acquired brain injury: supportive intensive care, cognitive rehabilitation, and neuropsychological monitoring. A 2024 multicenter cohort study of Andes virus survivors in Chile found that 61.9% reported incomplete recovery at three to six months post-onset, with clustering of both physical and neuropsychological symptoms across patient groups regardless of whether they required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

Responding to the 2026 cruise ship outbreak, Admiral Brian Christine, the Department of Health and Human Services’ assistant secretary for health, told reporters, “Let me be crystal clear: the risk of hantavirus to the general public remains very, very low. The Andes variant of this virus does not spread easily.” While the virus can be spread from person-to-person, Andes virus spreads primarily through contact with the urine, saliva, or droppings of infected rodents. Unfortunately, there is currently no approved vaccine for hantavirus pulmonary syndrome in the United States.