Up until now, the studies that have been conducted of Gulf War Syndrome have focused on stress as the cause. No more. The Department of Veterans Affairs has announced that $15 million will be set aside for studies that examine other causes of the disease.

Gulf War veterans have experienced undiagnosed illnesses with symptoms such as chronic fatigue, loss of muscle control, diarrhea, migraines, dizziness, memory problems and loss of balance.

It is critical to determine whether toxins are the cause of the disease. A new report commissioned by the VA indicates this may be the case.

Evidence supports a probable link between exposure to neurotoxins and the development of Gulf War veterans' illnesses," according to one of the 143-page report's key findings.

"A substantial proportion of Gulf War veterans are ill with multisymptom conditions not explained by wartime stress or psychiatric illness," the report said. Research indicates that the illnesses are "neurological in character" and possibly caused by exposure to certain toxic agents such as sarin gas used by Iraq in its 1980s war against Iran or certain pesticides.

700,000 U.S. soldiers took part in Gulf War I. More than 100,000 have experienced the symptoms described above. The symptoms have been experienced by Australian, British, French and Canadian troops.

The Guardian has more details. The report is available here. The VA's media advisory (pdf) is here.