Study to be Made on Possible Link Between MS and War Service

The Institute of Medicine and the Secretary of Veterans Affairs will be collaborating in a study on whether or not service in the Armed Forces during certain periods could have caused an increased risk of Multiple Sclerosis. The study will examine the prevalence of neurological diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease, brain cancer, and central nervous system abnormalities in those who were in service during the Persian Gulf War in the Southwest Asia theater of operations and the Post 9/11 Global theater of operations (Iraq, Afghanistan, etc). The incidence and prevalence of these diseases and abnormalities will be compared, and information will be collected on risk factors such as pesticides or toxic exposures that veterans were exposed to during service. The Institute of Medicine will submit interim reports to the Secretary and have a final report ready by no later than December of 2012. The Secretary of Veterans Affairs will provide as much funding as necessary for the timely completion of this study.