Havana Syndrome Among Canadian Diplomats: Brain Imaging Reveals Acquired Neurotoxicity
Havana Syndrome Among Canadian Diplomats: Brain Imaging Reveals Acquired Neurotoxicity
Abstract BACKGROUNDIn late 2016, US diplomats stationed in Havana began presenting with a variety of neurological manifestations that proved difficult to diagnose. Though previous studies suggested a likely association with brain injury, the mechanism of injury, brain regions involved, and etiology remained unknown. METHODSWe conducted a multimodal study examining 26 Canadian diplomats and their family members, the majority of whom presented with symptoms similar to their American counterparts while residing in Havana. Assessments included a medical history, self-reported symptom questionnaires, cognitive assessments, blood tests, and brain imaging assessments (magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and magnetoencephalography (MEG)). Individuals showing signs of brain injury underwent further neurological, visual, and audio-vestibular assessments. Eight participants were tested both before and after living in Havana. RESULTSOur assessment documents multiple functional and structural impairments, including significant spatial memory impairment, abnormal brain-stem evoked potentials, degradation of fibre tracts in the fornix and posterior corpus callosum, blood-brain barrier injury to the right basal forebrain and anterior insula, and abnormal paroxysmal slowing events of cortical activity. Subsequent mass-spectrometry and blood analyses documented reduced serum cholinesterase activity and the presence of organophosphates (Temephos) and pyrethroid metabolites (3-phenoxybenzoic acid or 3-BPA). CONCLUSIONSOur findings confirm brain injury, specify the regions involved, and raise the hypothesis of overexposure to cholinesterase inhibitors as a plausible etiology. If correct, our hypothesis bears public health ramifications (see Discussion) and suggests a course of action for reducing exposure in the future. FUNDINGGlobal Affairs Canada.
Ross Margaux、Rutherford Derek、Green A. Laine、Serlin Yonatan、Bowen Chris、Friedman Alon、Adams Amanda、Hacohen Noa、Gupta R. Rishi、Kim Jong Sung、Milikovsky Dan、Sweeney Crystal、Oystreck Darren、Noel Greg、Schmidt Matthias、Walsh Leah、Suarez Guillermo Aristi、Laroche Robert、Hashmi Javeria、Bardouille Tim、Quraan Maher、Ofer Jonathan、Newton Jillian、Verge Janine、Calkin Cynthia、Reardon Claire、Kamintsky Lyna、MacKenzie Diane
Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie UniversitySchool of Physiotherapy, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie UniversityDivision of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie UniversityNeurology Residency Training Program, McGill UniversityBiomedical Translational Imaging Centre (BIOTIC), Nova Scotia Health Authority and IWK Health Centre||Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health AuthorityDepartment of Medical Neuroscience and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and the Brain Repair Centre, Dalhousie University||Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie UniversityDepartment of Medical Neuroscience and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and the Brain Repair Centre, Dalhousie UniversityDepartment of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie UniversityHealth and Environments Research Centre (HERC) Laboratory, Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie UniversityDepartment of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevHealth and Environments Research Centre (HERC) Laboratory, Department of Community Health & Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie UniversityDivision of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie UniversitySchool of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dalhousie University, and Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech CentresDepartment of Diagnostic Radiology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie University and Nova Scotia Health AuthorityDivision of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie UniversityDepartment of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie UniversityDivision of Neurology, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie UniversityDepartment of Anesthesia, Pain Management & Perioperative Medicine, Dalhousie UniversityDepartment of Physics and Atmospheric Science, Dalhousie UniversityBiomedical Translational Imaging Centre (BIOTIC), Nova Scotia Health Authority and IWK Health CentreDepartment of Brain and Cognitive Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the NegevDepartment of Medical Neuroscience and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and the Brain Repair Centre, Dalhousie UniversitySchool of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Dalhousie University, and Nova Scotia Hearing and Speech CentresDepartment of Medical Neuroscience and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and the Brain Repair Centre, Dalhousie University||Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie UniversityDepartment of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, Dalhousie UniversityDepartment of Medical Neuroscience and Pediatrics, Faculty of Medicine and the Brain Repair Centre, Dalhousie UniversitySchool of Occupational Therapy, Faculty of Health, Dalhousie University
神经病学、精神病学医学研究方法基础医学
Ross Margaux,Rutherford Derek,Green A. Laine,Serlin Yonatan,Bowen Chris,Friedman Alon,Adams Amanda,Hacohen Noa,Gupta R. Rishi,Kim Jong Sung,Milikovsky Dan,Sweeney Crystal,Oystreck Darren,Noel Greg,Schmidt Matthias,Walsh Leah,Suarez Guillermo Aristi,Laroche Robert,Hashmi Javeria,Bardouille Tim,Quraan Maher,Ofer Jonathan,Newton Jillian,Verge Janine,Calkin Cynthia,Reardon Claire,Kamintsky Lyna,MacKenzie Diane.Havana Syndrome Among Canadian Diplomats: Brain Imaging Reveals Acquired Neurotoxicity[EB/OL].(2025-03-28)[2025-08-02].https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.1101/19007096.点此复制
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