NIH Study Finds No Brain Damage in 'Havana Syndrome' Cases

A comprehensive study by the National Institutes of Health reveals no significant brain injuries or clinical differences in individuals reporting 'Havana Syndrome,' challenging previous theories of neurological damage.

NIH researchers conducted a detailed study on individuals reporting 'Havana Syndrome,' finding no significant MRI-detected brain injuries or clinical differences compared to controls.
Despite extensive testing, symptoms including cognitive dysfunction and dizziness were not linked to detectable neurological damage, but were acknowledged as genuine and impactful.
Affected U.S. government personnel self-reported significantly increased symptoms of fatigue, post-traumatic stress, and depression compared to controls.
Forty-one percent of participants in the AHI group met the criteria for functional neurological disorders or had significant somatic symptoms, pointing to a potential psychological basis for the symptoms.
The findings challenge previous theories of neurological damage, suggesting that the symptoms could be related to psychological distress or other non-neurological factors.