The US Department of Defense has unveiled an initiative to monitor the brain health of warfighters and identify interventions that can restore or enhance their mental processing skills.Called the Cognitive Monitoring Program, this effort examines how service members acquire and process information while tracking changes in their approach throughout their careers.It uses a computer-based tool to evaluate 10 cognitive domains, such as attention, memory, and judgment, along with a questionnaire covering mood, sleep, post-traumatic stress disorder, and traumatic brain injury symptoms.The Pentagon noted that the framework’s main objective is to screen troops early in their military duty to establish a prime cognitive baseline, with follow-ups every five years or as needed to enable proactive monitoring, injury comparison, and optimized clinical intervention to support their health and readiness.Initial testing began in June 2024 with cadets in early training, followed by high-risk personnel evaluations set to conclude by September 2025. Full-force baseline assessments are expected by the end of 2027.Early Detection and Real-Time UseKathy Lee, director of the Pentagon’s Warfighter Brain Health Initiative, emphasized the importance of early and regular testing to detect subtle cognitive shifts—even those unrelated to blasts or brain injury—before they affect performance.She added that results from the test could be utilized immediately and measured against others in their units.(For illustrative purpose only.) Photo: Airman 1st Class Kathryn Reaves/US Air Force“When you take your first baseline, you are compared by gender and by a four-year age group in military norms … so you can also pop out, if you will, of a norm when you take that assessment,” Lee explained.“It’ll also flag it and say, something looks off…that it’s not in alignment with the norms now. A retake or clinical evaluation is indicated. Maybe they didn’t sleep well the night before the assessment. You don’t have to wait until the second comparison, three years or five years later.” Protecting Against Blast ExposureTo further support the Cognitive Monitoring Program, the US Department of Defense is developing a guideline to specify and track at-risk populations affected by blast overpressure, among the critical risks to brain health.This documentation will provide best practices, recommended stand-off distances, and “accurately determine risk and inform targeted mitigation efforts” for soldiers assigned to priority weapon systems.Simulators are also being introduced to reduce blast exposure and minimize effects from repeated contact while sustaining combat readiness. Some of these technologies have already been fielded across the US Marine Corps and the US Army Ranger Regiment.“This data-driven approach ensures that risk management actions are based on measurable exposure, allowing for more precise protection strategies across all personnel who may be affected,” the Pentagon said.“By leveraging this guide, military leaders can make informed decisions that balance mission requirements with protective measures, enhancing force readiness and safeguarding service members from the adverse effects of blast overpressure.”US soldier fires Nammo M72 Enhanced Capacity (EC). Photo: Sgt. Luke Kuennen/US Marine CorpsThe post Pentagon Launches Cognitive Health Program to Boost Warfighter Performance appeared first on The Defense Post.