Scientific breakthrough into Gulf War Syndrome has revealed debilitating faulty cell condition is likely caused by intense exposure to hazardous biological and chemical agents from the conflict
Gulf War veterans suffering from a debilitating and baffling illness for decades was likely caused by exposure to biological and chemical agents during the war.
They finally have an explanation after world-first research unearthed a likely cause for Gulf War Illness (GWI), also known as Gulf War Syndrome.
It is a multi-symptomatic disorder that has affected veterans since their deployment in the war between 1990 and 1991.
As many as 33,000 British veterans could be living with the syndrome, with symptoms like PTSD, chronic fatigue, joint pain and headaches.
Sarin gas released when troops destroyed caches of Iraqi chemical weapons during the Gulf War is the likely cause of the so-called 'Gulf War Syndrome' affecting a quarter of a million veterans
The map of shows the locations of major chemical weapons storage facilities bombed on the night of January 18 and 19 1991 and the location of US military units and sites of sarin and other chemical weapon detections on January 19 to 21
The illness affects between 25 and 32 per cent of the nearly one million veterans from 41 countries who served in the war.
Many of the defence service men and women were exposed to anti-nerve agent drugs, insecticides, nerve agents and depleted uranium.
Researchers from Griffith University in Australia say the illness is likely caused by intense exposure to hazardous biological and chemical agents and the effect they have on cell structures.
Cell structures within the human body are sensitive and vulnerable to these agents, causing faulty cell function.
Author of the study Sonya Marshall-Gradisnik says the research has found integral cell structures that transport calcium are defective in veterans.
Calcium within cells is a signalling molecule that regulates essential functions such as muscle contraction, nerve function and hormone secretion.
'Our study reveals a crucial dysfunction in cell ion channels, specifically the transient receptor potential ion channels, in veterans with GWI,' Professor Marshall-Gradisnik said.
'This discovery is a significant step forward in understanding this baffling and complex illness.'
For Gulf War veteran and illness advocate Ian Allwood, being believed is a huge step.
'This research is life-changing for the Gulf War vets,' he said.
'For those in the veteran community that have been suffering, this is the first step in identifying a causal factor.
'This is groundbreaking research that will hopefully open pathways to treatment for the often-debilitating symptoms.'
Fellow author Etianne Sasso says the findings are crucial in demystifying the illness and offers scientific evidence validating the condition for long-term sufferers.
'This breakthrough in understanding the cause of GWI now provides hope for researchers to be able to develop new treatments to improve the future for our veterans,' Ms Sasso said.
