B4 Health Resources
Brain Health Coordinating Center
The Brain Health Coordinating Center (BHCC) is an exciting new initiative with the primary goal of serving as an enterprise-wide resource for improving brain health for Veterans across the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). This will be accomplished through leveraging existing tools (e.g., eMetrics, VA/DoD Clinical Practice Guidelines) to facilitate better Veteran brain health.
Beyond Mild, Moderate, and Severe: Evaluating the Clinical, Biomarkers, Imaging, and Modifiers [CBI-M] Classification System for Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
The project aims to increase understanding regarding the utility of existing TBI classification systems/criteria and to improve understanding regarding three diagnostic strategies that are currently being used (VA/DoD and ACRM systems), or have been proposed to be used (CBI-M system), to classify TBI severity among those with milder injuries. In addition, efforts will be focused on exploring relationships between these classification systems and: self-reported TBI-related and mental health outcomes (e.g., post concussive symptoms, post traumatic symptoms); objective functional outcomes (e.g., employment, death by suicide); and objective cognitive outcomes (e.g., executive functioning). A focus across aims is the exploration of how social determinants of health impact such longitudinal outcomes.
Microbiome-Gut-Brain Axis Biomarkers for Prevention of Persistent Symptoms-Traumatic Brain Injury(MAPPS-TBI)
Among those who played contact sports (e.g., retired National Football League [NFL] players), lifetime repetitive head impacts and concussions (i.e., mild traumatic brain injury [mTBI]) have been associated with increased risk for adverse brain health and mental health outcomes, including suicide.1-3 Inflammation resulting from contact sport-related injuries is an underexplored factor that may explain these poor health outcomes. Recent research suggests that gut microbial diversity and microbiome community composition are further negatively impacted after even mTBIs.
Together With Veterans: Rural Veteran Suicide Prevention Program
Together With Veterans (TWV) is a community-based suicide prevention program for rural Veterans. TWV involves partnering with rural Veterans and their communities to implement community-based suicide prevention. TWV is funded by the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Office of Rural Health (ORH).
