CSRD Research Career Scientist Award Application

Dr. Linda Chao’s research has largely focused understanding Gulf War Illness (GWI) and improving
health outcomes in Gulf War (GW) Veterans. Her current research activities include investigating the long-
term consequences of GWI in the context of aging and neurodegenerative diseases. Epidemiological
research has linked environmental exposures, particularly pesticide exposure, to Parkinson’s disease (PD).
However, there has been no systematic research on incidence or prevalence of PD among GW veterans. Dr.
Chao’s current VA Merit grant (2I01CX000798-05) investigates the prevalence of PD and prodromal PD in
GW Veterans. Dr. Chao also has a newly funded Department of Defense (DOD)/Congressionally Directed
Medical Research Program (CDMRP) grant (W81XWH-21-0656) that investigates the prevalence and
etiology of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) in GW Veterans. MCI is a condition where cognitive decline is
greater than expected for one’s age but is not yet severe enough to meet the criteria for dementia. Because MCI
has been linked to increased risk for dementia, this research will have a significant impact on VA Healthcare
because the precocious diagnosis of MCI, Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and PD in GW Veterans could
facilitate the targeted delivery of neuroprotective therapies when they become available. Furthermore, at-
risk Veterans may be counseled to adopt lifestyle changes that may lower their risk for these neurodegenerative
diseases.
Three decades after the end of the Gulf War, effective treatments for Gulf War Illness (GWI), the
multisymptomatic disorder estimated to affect 250,000 GW Veterans, remain elusive. Dr. Chao’s research has
investigated evidence-based treatments for GWI. Her recently completed VA Merit grant (I21CX001428)
showed that treating insomnia in GW Veterans non-pharmacologically with a behavioral intervention improved
both sleep and non-sleep symptoms of GWI. Because sleep apnea is commonly comorbid with insomnia, and
because many GW Veterans have untreated sleep apnea, Dr. Chao is expanding this research by investigating
the efficacy of an intervention that combines sleep apnea and insomnia treatment in her newly funded
DOD/CDMRP grant (W81XWH-21-1-0758).
Another major focus of Dr. Chao’s research is evaluating the neural mechanisms of non-pharmacological
interventions to delay onset or slow progression of cognitive impairment and dementia (recently
completed DOD/CDMRP grant W81XWH-17-1-0490; newly funded DOD/CDMRP grant W81XWH-21-1-0147).
Dementia prevalence is expected to triple worldwide over the next 40 years at tremendous monetary and
emotional cost. Considering that over 70% of Veterans are 50 years and older, and that Veterans 65 and older
are the fastest growing age group, this aspect of Dr. Chao’s research program will also have significant
impact and relevance on VA healthcare.

Grant Number: 5IK6CX002522-03
NIH Institute/Center: VA
Principal Investigator: Linda Chao