Distinct Functional MRI Connectivity Patterns and Cortical Volume Variations Associated with Repetitive Blast Exposure in Special Operations Forces Members

Abstract

Background Special operations forces members often face multiple blast injuries and have a higher risk of traumatic brain injury. However, the relationship between neuroimaging markers, the cumulative severity of injury, and long-term symptoms has not previously been well-established in the literature. Purpose To determine the relationship between the frequency of blast injuries, persistent clinical symptoms, and related cortical volumetric and functional connectivity (FC) changes observed at brain MRI in special operations forces members. Materials and Methods A cohort of 220 service members from a prospective study between January 2021 and May 2023 with a history of repetitive blast exposure underwent psychodiagnostics and a comprehensive neuroimaging evaluation, including structural and resting-state functional MRI (fMRI). Of these, 212 met the inclusion criteria. Participants were split into two datasets for model development and validation, and each dataset was divided into high- and low-exposure groups based on participants' exposure to various explosives. Differences in FC were analyzed using a general linear model, and cortical gray matter volumes were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test. An external age- and sex-matched healthy control group of 212 participants was extracted from the SRPBS Multidisorder MRI Dataset for volumetric analyses. A multiple linear regression model was used to assess correlations between clinical scores and FC, while a logistic regression model was used to predict exposure group from fMRI scans. Results In the 212 participants (mean age, 43.0 years ± 8.6 [SD]; 160 male [99.5%]) divided into groups with low or high blast exposure, the high-exposure group had higher scores for the Neurobehavioral Symptom Inventory (NSI) (t = 3.16, P < .001) and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) (PCL-5) (t = 2.72, P = .01). FC differences were identified in the bilateral superior and inferior lateral occipital cortex (LOC) (P value range, .001-.04), frontal medial cortex (P < .001), left superior frontal gyrus (P < .001), and precuneus (P value range, .02-.03). Clinical scores from NSI and PCL-5 were inversely correlated with FC in the LOC, superior parietal lobule, precuneus, and default mode networks (r = -0.163 to -0.384; P value range, <.001 to .04). The high-exposure group showed increased cortical volume in regions of the LOC compared with healthy controls and the low-exposure group (P value range, .01-.04). The predictive model helped accurately classify participants into high- and low-exposure groups based on fMRI data with 88.00 sensitivity (95% CI: 78.00, 98.00), 67% specificity (95% CI: 53.00, 81.00), and 73% accuracy (95% CI: 60.00, 86.00). Conclusion Repetitive blast exposure leads to distinct alterations in FC and cortical volume, which correlate with neurobehavioral symptoms. The predictive model suggests that even in the absence of observable anatomic changes, FC may indicate blast-related trauma. © RSNA, 2025 Supplemental material is available for this article.