Senate hears DOD updates on warfighter brain health, traumatic brain injury, and blast exposure on Feb. 28.

The National Intrepid Center of Excellence at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center is the headquarters of the Defense Intrepid Network for Traumatic Brain Injury and Brain Health, which consists of 10 Intrepid Spirit Centers located at military bases throughout the U.S., in addition to two TBI clinics in Alaska and Germany.

Last year, the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness signed policy implementing within the Defense Department and across the military services the requirements laid out under the Brandon Act. 

The Military Health System remained committed to warfighter brain health in 2023, spearheading advancements in training, technology, and care.

"A top priority for the DOD is taking care of our people,” said Dr. Lester Martinez-Lopez, Assistant Secretary of Defense for Health Affairs. “This priority includes promoting brain health and countering traumatic brain injury in all its forms. As the military community’s understanding of brain health has evolved over the years, the Department’s ...

Sudden brain symptoms need to be evaluated quickly, and might be an anomalous health incident, otherwise known as Havana syndrome.

DOD/VA hearing and vision injury databases help researchers advance health for service members and vets.

Cyber and IT warriors may develop somewhat unique vision and hearing injuries due to their duties and workspaces.

The Defense Health Agency’s Hearing Center of Excellence offers a specialized course to train clinicians how to treat dizziness and imbalance in patients with mild traumatic brain injury, otherwise known as concussion.

Whether on the sport field or the battlefield, the Defense Health Agency is the global leader in research on the effects of concussion—known as mild traumatic brain injury—in the military. Its research has fueled the development of protocols to help providers assess and treat concussion from initial injury to acute and post-acute medical settings, ...

Concussions and TBIs are a significant health issue which affect service members and veterans during times of both peace and war. Between 2000-2023, there were a total of 468,424 first-time cases of TBI in the military worldwide, with just over 80% being considered mild TBI.

From enlistment to retirement, the brain health of service members is being checked. See why the results are creating new action plans for the DOD.

Scientific session at the Military Health System Research Symposium highlights research addressing critical military medical issues.

Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman Ramón “CZ” Colón-López shared his compelling story of recognizing and getting help for traumatic brain injuries on the Picking Your Brain podcast, from the Defense Health Agency’s Traumatic Brain Injury Center of Excellence.

Separate the myths and truths around traumatic brain injury