12 2 STA T .45 4 PUBLIC LA W 11 0– 1 8 1 —J A N .28 , 2008 inorde r t o m iti ga tet h e negati v eim p a c t s o f tra u matic b rain in j ur y on such fami l y members and to support the recovery of such members from traumatic brain injury .(9)T o conduct research on the mental health needs of families of members of the A rmed F orces w ith traumatic brain injury and develop protocols to address any needs identified through such research. ( 10 ) To conduct longitudinal studies (using imaging tech - nology and other proven research methods) on members of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury to identify early signs of Al z heimer ’ s disease ,P ar k inson’s disease, or other mani- festations of neurodegeneration, as well as epilepsy, in such members, in coordination with the studies authorized by section 72 1 of the J ohn W arner N ational D efense Authorization Act for Fiscal Y ear 2007 (Public L aw 109 –364; 120 S tat. 2294) and other studies of the Department of Defense and the Depart- ment of V eterans Affairs that address the connection between e x posure to combat and the development of Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders, as well as epilepsy. (11) To develop and oversee a long-term plan to increase the number of mental health and neurological health profes- sionals within the Department in order to facilitate the meeting by the Department of the needs of members of the Armed Forces with traumatic brain injury until their transition to care and treatment from the Department of Veterans Affairs. (12) To develop a program on comprehensive pain manage- ment, including management of acute and chronic pain, to utilize current and develop new treatments for pain, and to identify and disseminate best practices on pain management related to traumatic brain injury. (13) Such other responsibilities as the Secretary shall specify. SEC.162 2. CE NT E ROF E X CE L LENCE I N P RE V ENTION ,D I AG NOSIS, M ITI - GATION, TREATMENT, AND RE H A B ILITATION OF POST- TRA U MATIC STRESS DISORDER AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS. (a) INGE NE RAL . — The Secretary of Defense shall establish within the Department of Defense a center of excellence in the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other mental health conditions, including mild, moderate, and severe post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health conditions, to carry out the responsibilities specified in subsection (c). (b) PAR T NER SHIP S.—The Secretary shall ensure that the center collaborates to the maximum extent practicable with the National C enter on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder of the Department of Veterans Affairs, institutions of higher education, and other appro- priate public and private entities (including international entities) to carry out the responsibilities specified in subsection (c). (c) R ESP O NSI B ILITIES.—The center shall have responsibilities as follows
(1) To implement the comprehensive plan and strategy for the Department of Defense, re q uired by section 161 8 of this Act, for the prevention, diagnosis, mitigation, treatment, and rehabilitation of post-traumatic stress disorder and other Establi s hmen t .10USC 10 7 1 n o te.
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