Brain changes behind thinking and movement problems in older people with HIV and Parkinson's
Neurofunctional Mechanisms of Changes in Cognition and Motor Function in Aging with HIV and Parkinson's Disease
This project looks at brain changes that may explain why older people living with HIV sometimes have thinking and movement problems similar to Parkinson's.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sri International NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Menlo Park, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11312578 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be asked to have brain scans, movement testing, and thinking/memory tests while researchers compare people aging with HIV to people with Parkinson's disease. The team will focus on brain pathways between the basal ganglia and limbic system and measure slowing of thought and movement (bradyphrenia and bradykinesia). Participants will be followed over time to see how imaging signals relate to changes in behavior and function. Findings will be used to identify patterns that might predict decline or guide future treatments.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults (typically over age 50) living with HIV who notice memory, thinking, or movement changes, and people with Parkinson's disease enrolled for comparison.
Not a fit: People without HIV or Parkinson's, younger individuals without cognitive or movement symptoms, or those unwilling to undergo imaging and follow-up visits are unlikely to directly benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors detect and treat thinking and movement problems earlier in older adults living with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Previous brain imaging work has linked basal ganglia and limbic changes to cognitive and motor symptoms, but combining aging HIV and Parkinson's features in the same project is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
Menlo Park, United States
- Sri International — Menlo Park, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schulte, Tilman — Sri International
- Study coordinator: Schulte, Tilman
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 below.