Rhind Shawn G, Shiu Maria Y, Vartanian Oshin, Allen Shamus, Palmer Miriam, Ramirez Joel, Gao Fuqiang, Scott Christopher J M, Homes Meissa F, Gray Gary, Black Sandra E, Saary Joan
Defence Research and Development-Toronto Research Centre, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, Canada.
Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 2W6, Canada.
Brain Sci. 2024 Dec 23;14(12):1296. doi: 10.3390/brainsci14121296.
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.
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.
The aviators exhibited significantly elevated levels of GFAP, NF-L, PRDX-6, and T-tau compared to the CAF controls ( < 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.
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.
背景/目的：军事飞行员可能会暴露于极端的生理应激源下，包括减压应激、重力加速度，以及间歇性缺氧和/或高氧环境，这些都可能导致神经生物学功能障碍/损伤。本研究旨在调查军事飞行员的神经生物标志物水平，以评估长期脑损伤和神经退行性变的潜在风险。
这项横断面研究纳入了48名加拿大武装部队（CAF）飞行员和48名非飞行员CAF对照。分析血浆样本中的神经胶质激活生物标志物（GFAP）、轴突损伤生物标志物（NF-L、pNF-H）、氧化应激生物标志物（PRDX-6）和神经退行性变生物标志物（T-tau），以及S100b、NSE和UCHL-1。使用多重免疫测定法定量生物标志物浓度。
与CAF对照相比，飞行员的GFAP、NF-L、PRDX-6和T-tau水平显著升高（<0.001），表明神经胶质激活、轴突损伤和氧化应激增加。观察到S100b、NSE和UCHL-1水平有升高趋势，但无统计学意义。生物标志物水平升高表明存在累积性脑损伤，引发了对潜在长期神经功能障碍的担忧。
军事飞行员发生神经生物学损伤的风险增加，包括神经胶质和轴突损伤、氧化应激和早期神经退行性变。这些发现强调了主动监测和进一步研究的重要性，以了解高空飞行对脑健康的长期影响，并制定减轻该人群认知衰退和神经退行性变风险的策略。
