Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39766495›Full record

ArticleBrain sciences2024

Neurological Biomarker Profiles in Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) Pilots and Aircrew.

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 and 2 more

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Brain sciences, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
3citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

3 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Intermittent Hypoxemia and Brain Injury Biomarker S100B in Preterm Infants.medRxiv : the preprint server for health sciences · 2025
    Article
  3. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

12 authors.

Shawn G RhindDefence Research and Development-Toronto Research Centre, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, Canada.ORCID 0000-0003-2300-0620
Maria Y ShiuDefence Research and Development-Toronto Research Centre, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, Canada.
Oshin VartanianDefence Research and Development-Toronto Research Centre, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, Canada.
Shamus AllenCanadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, Canada.
Miriam PalmerCanadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, Canada.
Joel RamirezThe Dr. Sandra Black Centre for Brain Resilience & Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada.ORCID 0000-0002-5582-1776
Fuqiang GaoThe Dr. Sandra Black Centre for Brain Resilience & Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada.
Christopher J M ScottThe Dr. Sandra Black Centre for Brain Resilience & Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada.
Meissa F HomesThe Dr. Sandra Black Centre for Brain Resilience & Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada.
Gary GrayCanadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, Canada.
Sandra E BlackThe Dr. Sandra Black Centre for Brain Resilience & Recovery, Sunnybrook Research Institute, Toronto, ON M4N 3M5, Canada.
Joan SaaryCanadian Forces Environmental Medicine Establishment, Toronto, ON M3K 2C9, Canada.

Funding

Defence Research and Development Canada NA
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

BACKGROUND/

objectivesMilitary 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.

methodsThis 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.

resultsThe aviators exhibited significantly elevated levels of GFAP, NF-L, PRDX-6, and T-tau compared to the CAF controls (

conclusionsMilitary 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.

Indexed as

aviationblood biomarkersglial fibrillary acidic proteinhigh altitudehypobaric decompressionneurofilament light chainneuron-specific enolaseperoxiredoxin-6tau proteinubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase-L1

Identifiers

PMID39766495
PMCPMC11674576

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.