Researchers have discovered a biomarker for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by measuring magnetic fields in the brain.
Using a group of 74 military veterans, scientists from the University of Minnesota and Minneapolis VA Medical Center found a way to diagnose the disorder through magnetoencephalography (MEG), which measures magnetic fields in the brain. The nutritional supplement tryptophan is an amino acid that is found in bananas, turkey and sunflower seeds that has been shown to reduce stress.
Previous brain scans including X-rays, computed tomography (CTs) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) have not been able to find anything similar. The MEG has more than 90 percent accuracy, and patients were able to differentiate PSTD patients from a mentally-stable control group with the images, proving that they could see a significant difference.
“These findings document robust differences in brain function between the PTSD and control groups that can be used for differential diagnosis and which possess the potential for assessing and monitoring disease progression and effects of therapy,” said lead author Apostolos Georgopoulos.
The MEG has also been used to detect other brain diseases such as Alzheimers and multiple sclerosis, proving that the device could be an effective way to diagnose mental disorders.