NIH-funded research R01 grant

Brain changes behind thinking and movement problems in older people with HIV and Parkinson's

Official title: Neurofunctional Mechanisms of Changes in Cognition and Motor Function in Aging with HIV and Parkinson's Disease

Funded at Sri International · NIH-11312578 · Data updated 2026-11-12

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 typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionSri International
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Menlo Park, United States)
Project startMay 15, 2023
Project endApril 30, 2028
Funding year2026
Award (this year)$795,305
NIH project number5R01AG081144-04
Project IDNIH-11312578 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

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.

Less likely to help

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.

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.

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 gone: 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

  • Sri International
    Menlo Park, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Schulte, Tilman — Sri International
  • Study coordinator: Schulte, Tilman

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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  • Understanding how certain brain chemicals affect memory in aging and Alzheimer's disease

    This study is looking at how certain brain chemicals, like dopamine and norepinephrine, affect memory as we age and in people with Alzheimer's, using animal models to see how changes in these chemicals might help us understand memory problems better.

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About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.