Brain blood flow and oxygen use in adult iron deficiency anemia
Official title: Brain Blood Flow, Oxygenation, and Cognition in Adult Onset Iron Deficiency Anemia
Funded at Children's Hospital of Los Angeles · NIH-11393318 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how moderate iron deficiency anemia in adults affects brain blood flow, oxygen use, and thinking abilities, and whether iron treatment can reverse any problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Children's Hospital of Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $680,805 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS117430-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11393318 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are women aged 14-60 with diagnosed moderate IDA (hemoglobin <11 g/dL) and healthy controls without IDA.
✕Less likely to help
Those with other causes of anemia or significant small vessel disease risk factors may not benefit.
What this research studies
In adults with moderate iron deficiency anemia, researchers will measure brain blood flow and oxygen use, along with memory, reasoning, and learning. They will use advanced MRI scans and blood tests to deeply phenotype cognitive and cerebrovascular changes. The study plans to recruit 96 women with IDA and 40 healthy controls from four donor centers in Los Angeles, with some recruitment via social media. Participants will undergo comprehensive cerebrovascular MRI and baseline blood work, then follow-up assessments to track reversibility after iron replacement therapy.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could clarify how IDA affects adult brain function and guide more effective iron-treatment strategies to improve cognition and brain health.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary data show notable cognitive and cerebrovascular changes in IDA, with potential for reversibility with treatment.
Where this research is happening
-
Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wood, John C — Children's Hospital of Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Wood, John C
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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How iron-deficiency anemia affects adult brain blood flow, oxygen, and memory
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.