Brain Injuries or Biological Abnormalities Not Seen Among ‘Havana Syndrome’ Patients Despite Severe Symptoms [Study]

(Photo : Unsplash/ Bruno Aguirre)

On March 18, experts from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) published a pair of studies which reveal the few clinical differences between patients with Havana Syndrome and healthy comparison groups. The findings were announced after almost five years of research since hundreds of American personnel in stations from different countries have reported the symptoms.

Investigating Idiopathic Symptoms

Led by Dr. Leighton Chan from NIH Clinical Center, researchers designed multiple methods that use advanced imaging techniques and in-depth clinical assessments. The control groups included healthy volunteers who had similar jobs but did not report Havana Syndrome.

The participants were asked to undergo auditory, clinical, visual, balance, neuropsychological, and blood biomarkers testing. Aside from this, they also received various types of MRI scans with the goal of investigating the structure, volume, and function of the brain.

In the first study, researchers investigated the brains of people who were believed to suffer from the mysterious ailment. The research team found no consistent evidence of brain injury and no significant differences between the ailing group and the healthy group.

In the second study, scientists ran a series of tests on 86 US government employees and family members who reported to have Havana Syndrome. These participants were compared with 30 people who had similar jobs but had no such symptoms. The experts found that by most biomarker and clinical measures, the two groups were just the same.

The researchers concluded that if the symptoms were brought by some external factors, they did not leave any lasting mark on the patients. However, it is possible that whatever markers connected to such a phenomenon might have faded or cannot be detected at all.

Despite the failure to find evidence of brain injuries, researchers noted that the symptoms reported by the patients are genuine, even if a cause is not apparent. While they did not identify significant differences in participants with Havana Syndrome, it is still important to acknowledge that these symptoms are very real. They can also cause significant disruption in the lives of those affected and can even be prolonged, disabling and hard to treat.

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What is Havana Syndrome?

Havana Syndrome is a mysterious illness which has affected US government officials, military personnel, and diplomats. It first emerged in late 2016 when a group of diplomats stationed in Havana, Cuba began reporting symptoms which were consistent with head trauma, such as extreme headaches and dizziness. In the years that followed, there have been cases reported globally, including at least 60 incidents in Austria, Bogota, Vienna, and Colombia.

Last year, authorities confirmed 1,500 reported cases across the US government in 96 different countries. However, the number of reported incidents has significantly dropped in recent years.

Havana Syndrome patients reported significant increase in symptoms of post-traumatic stress, fatigue, depression, and anxiety. Less than 40% of the patients met the criteria for functional neurological disorders.

Most of the patients suffering from functional neurological disorders also experience persistent postural-perceptual dizziness. This is a condition where a person gets dizzy or has vertigo for no apparent reason.

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