Brain changes in older people with HIV and how it affects the brain’s HIV reservoir
Official title: Brain structure and function and the CNS HIV reservoir in older people living with HIV
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-11382080 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project studies how HIV affects the brain in older adults living with HIV and looks for biomarkers that signal inflammation and brain changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2025 |
| Project end | July 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $233,250 |
| NIH project number | 5R21NS148275-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11382080 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Older adults living with HIV who may have or be at risk for HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment.
✕Less likely to help
This study may not directly benefit those without HIV or without cognitive symptoms related to HIV.
What this research studies
Older adults living with HIV often experience cognitive and mood changes, and this research will examine how HIV persists in the brain and how it relates to brain structure and connections. The study uses brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers to explore inflammation and neurodegeneration linked to HIV in the CNS. By linking inflammatory signals to changes in brain networks, it aims to identify markers that could guide future therapies or monitoring. Participants would contribute biological samples and undergo imaging to help map these processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could lead to better detection and monitoring of HIV-related brain changes and inform strategies to protect cognition in people living with HIV.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests a link between CNS inflammation and brain network changes in older people with HIV, supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Diaz, Monica Maria — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Diaz, Monica Maria
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Adapting a mobile health tool to boost HIV outcomes for older adults with HIV in Ukraine
A mobile health platform called PositiveLinks would be adapted for older adults with HIV in Ukraine to help them stay engaged in care and improve treatment success.
-
Adapting mHealth to help older people with HIV stay in care in Ukraine
A patient-friendly plan to adapt a smartphone-based support tool to help older adults living with HIV in Ukraine stay adherent to treatment and connected to care.
-
Health insurance transitions for older adults with HIV on Medicare
Older adults with HIV face complex Medicare coverage that can affect access to HIV treatment and care.
-
Glycemic control and frailty risk in older adults at risk for type 2 diabetes: how local heat therapy may help
Aging adults at risk for type 2 diabetes may benefit from a local heat therapy approach to improve blood sugar control and reduce frailty risk.
-
Palliative care tools to support kidney-treatment choices for older adults with advanced CKD
A palliative-care program helps people aged 75 and older with advanced kidney disease make informed dialysis choices that fit their values and quality of life.
-
High-Intensity Exercise to Protect Cognition and Build Exercise Habits in Older Adults Living with HIV
A funded program tests whether 4 months of HIIT can help older people with HIV improve cognitive function and stick with regular exercise better than standard moderate exercise.
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.