Neurological Biomarker Profiles in Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Pilots and Aircrew
Background/Objectives: Military aviators can be exposed to extreme physiological stressors, including decompression stress, G-forces, as well as intermittent hypoxia and/or hyperoxia, which may contribute to neurobiological dysfunction/damage. This study aimed to investigate the levels of neurologic...
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MDPI AG
2024-12-01
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| Series: | Brain Sciences |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/12/1296 |
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| author | Shawn G. Rhind Maria Y. Shiu Oshin Vartanian Shamus Allen Miriam Palmer Joel Ramirez Fuqiang Gao Christopher J. M. Scott Meissa F. Homes Gary Gray Sandra E. Black Joan Saary |
| author_facet | Shawn G. Rhind Maria Y. Shiu Oshin Vartanian Shamus Allen Miriam Palmer Joel Ramirez Fuqiang Gao Christopher J. M. Scott Meissa F. Homes Gary Gray Sandra E. Black Joan Saary |
| author_sort | Shawn G. Rhind |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background/Objectives: Military aviators can be exposed to extreme physiological stressors, including decompression stress, G-forces, as well as intermittent hypoxia and/or hyperoxia, which may contribute to neurobiological dysfunction/damage. This study aimed to investigate the levels of neurological biomarkers in military aviators to assess the potential risk of long-term brain injury and neurodegeneration. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 48 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) aviators and 48 non-aviator CAF controls. Plasma samples were analyzed for biomarkers of glial activation (GFAP), axonal damage (NF-L, pNF-H), oxidative stress (PRDX-6), and neurodegeneration (T-tau), along with S100b, NSE, and UCHL-1. The biomarker concentrations were quantified using multiplexed immunoassays. Results: The aviators exhibited significantly elevated levels of GFAP, NF-L, PRDX-6, and T-tau compared to the CAF controls (<i>p</i> < 0.001), indicating increased glial activation, axonal injury, and oxidative stress. Trends toward higher levels of S100b, NSE, and UCHL-1 were observed but were not statistically significant. The elevated biomarker levels suggest cumulative brain damage, raising concerns about potential long-term neurological impairments. Conclusions: Military aviators are at increased risk for neurobiological injury, including glial and axonal damage, oxidative stress, and early neurodegeneration. These findings emphasize the importance of proactive monitoring and further research to understand the long-term impacts of high-altitude flight on brain health and to develop strategies for mitigating cognitive decline and neurodegenerative risks in this population. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-013031f11c6a4d56b76e2f9e3def87da |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2076-3425 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-12-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Brain Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-013031f11c6a4d56b76e2f9e3def87da2025-08-20T02:50:56ZengMDPI AGBrain Sciences2076-34252024-12-011412129610.3390/brainsci14121296Neurological Biomarker Profiles in Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Pilots and AircrewShawn G. Rhind0Maria Y. Shiu1Oshin Vartanian2Shamus Allen3Miriam Palmer4Joel Ramirez5Fuqiang Gao6Christopher J. M. Scott7Meissa F. Homes8Gary Gray9Sandra E. Black10Joan Saary11Defence Research and Development–Toronto Research Centre, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, CanadaDefence Research and Development–Toronto Research Centre, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, CanadaDefence Research and Development–Toronto Research Centre, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, CanadaCanadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, CanadaCanadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, CanadaThe Dr. Sandra Black Centre for Brain Resilience & Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, CanadaThe Dr. Sandra Black Centre for Brain Resilience & Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, CanadaThe Dr. Sandra Black Centre for Brain Resilience & Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, CanadaThe Dr. Sandra Black Centre for Brain Resilience & Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, CanadaCanadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, CanadaThe Dr. Sandra Black Centre for Brain Resilience & Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, CanadaCanadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, CanadaBackground/Objectives: Military aviators can be exposed to extreme physiological stressors, including decompression stress, G-forces, as well as intermittent hypoxia and/or hyperoxia, which may contribute to neurobiological dysfunction/damage. This study aimed to investigate the levels of neurological biomarkers in military aviators to assess the potential risk of long-term brain injury and neurodegeneration. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 48 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) aviators and 48 non-aviator CAF controls. Plasma samples were analyzed for biomarkers of glial activation (GFAP), axonal damage (NF-L, pNF-H), oxidative stress (PRDX-6), and neurodegeneration (T-tau), along with S100b, NSE, and UCHL-1. The biomarker concentrations were quantified using multiplexed immunoassays. Results: The aviators exhibited significantly elevated levels of GFAP, NF-L, PRDX-6, and T-tau compared to the CAF controls (<i>p</i> < 0.001), indicating increased glial activation, axonal injury, and oxidative stress. Trends toward higher levels of S100b, NSE, and UCHL-1 were observed but were not statistically significant. The elevated biomarker levels suggest cumulative brain damage, raising concerns about potential long-term neurological impairments. Conclusions: Military aviators are at increased risk for neurobiological injury, including glial and axonal damage, oxidative stress, and early neurodegeneration. These findings emphasize the importance of proactive monitoring and further research to understand the long-term impacts of high-altitude flight on brain health and to develop strategies for mitigating cognitive decline and neurodegenerative risks in this population.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/12/1296aviationhigh altitudehypobaric decompressionblood biomarkersneuron-specific enolaseglial fibrillary acidic protein |
| spellingShingle | Shawn G. Rhind Maria Y. Shiu Oshin Vartanian Shamus Allen Miriam Palmer Joel Ramirez Fuqiang Gao Christopher J. M. Scott Meissa F. Homes Gary Gray Sandra E. Black Joan Saary Neurological Biomarker Profiles in Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Pilots and Aircrew Brain Sciences aviation high altitude hypobaric decompression blood biomarkers neuron-specific enolase glial fibrillary acidic protein |
| title | Neurological Biomarker Profiles in Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Pilots and Aircrew |
| title_full | Neurological Biomarker Profiles in Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Pilots and Aircrew |
| title_fullStr | Neurological Biomarker Profiles in Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Pilots and Aircrew |
| title_full_unstemmed | Neurological Biomarker Profiles in Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Pilots and Aircrew |
| title_short | Neurological Biomarker Profiles in Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Pilots and Aircrew |
| title_sort | neurological biomarker profiles in royal canadian air force rcaf pilots and aircrew |
| topic | aviation high altitude hypobaric decompression blood biomarkers neuron-specific enolase glial fibrillary acidic protein |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3425/14/12/1296 |
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