VA Research Wrap Up: New findings on alcohol use disorder, toxic exposure and rehabilitation

VA’s Office of Research and Development recently published three News Briefs highlighting new findings on alcohol use disorder, toxic exposure and sarcoidosis and access to rehabilitation care.

Alcohol increases hunger, disrupts processing of sugar

VA Nebraska-Western Iowa researchers found that exposing stomach and pancreas cells to alcohol increases secretion of the hunger hormone ghrelin and related biological processes. Excess ghrelin also impairs the cells’ ability to sense and process glucose, which can lead to harmful fat accumulation in the liver. Targeting these metabolic pathways has potential as a new treatment strategy for the interconnected conditions of alcohol use disorder and alcohol-associated liver disease.

Inorganic dust exposure increases sarcoidosis risk

In the largest ever study of sarcoidosis among Veterans, Pittsburgh VA researchers found that those exposed to high levels of inorganic dust during their military service had an increased risk for this normally rare inflammatory disease.

Sarcoidosis causes lumps called granulomas to appear across the body, including in the lungs, which can cause a persistent dry cough, extreme fatigue, difficulty breathing, chest pain and more.

In an analysis of more than 35,000 Veterans, those with military occupational exposure to inorganic dust had 8% higher odds of developing sarcoidosis. The risk appeared to peak two to five years after military separation, suggesting granulomas take time to form as the body adapts to dust exposure. The findings highlight the continued need to address military exposure to airborne toxins and monitor the health of Veterans at higher risk of exposure-linked conditions.

Vie the full study from “Annals of the American Thoracic Society.”

Pilot program boosts Veterans’ access to pelvic health rehabilitation

Pelvic floor disorders can result in pain, incontinence and sexual dysfunction, so VA researchers created a mentorship program and a virtual Care Navigator program to increase direct pelvic health rehabilitation access for Veterans.

Between 2022 and 2025, the program trained 38 mentees who collectively served almost 23,000 Veterans. Veterans interviewed at two pilot Care Navigator sites in rural communities reported symptom improvement and high satisfaction with the rehabilitation they received.

The results show this project bolstered the capacity for specialized pelvic health rehabilitation within VA and increased access for rural Veterans without the need to hire new staff. Future work will focus on expanding the program to reach even more Veterans.

For more Office of Research and Development updates, visit ORD online or go to https://www.research.va.gov/news_briefs/.