Brain Changes in Restrictive Eating Disorders

Evaluating the Impact of Restrictive Eating Disorders on White Matter Development

NIH-funded research Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-11112419

This project looks at how restrictive eating disorders might affect brain development in young people and adults.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionMassachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project IDNIH-11112419 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

We are studying how restrictive eating disorders might change the brain's white matter, which helps different parts of the brain communicate. Researchers will use existing brain scans, along with clinical information, blood samples, and diet details from individuals with eating disorders. These will be compared to similar information from healthy individuals to understand the differences. The goal is to see how these brain changes develop over time, especially during adolescence and early adulthood.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: This research focuses on understanding brain development in individuals aged 9 to 40 who have restrictive eating disorders.

Not a fit: Patients not directly involved in the original data collection for the parent grants will not receive direct personal benefit from this specific analysis.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: Understanding these brain changes could help us develop better ways to identify, treat, and support individuals with restrictive eating disorders.

How similar studies have performed: This project builds on existing neuroimaging data and uses well-established methods to analyze brain images, combining information from several previous studies.

Where this research is happening

Boston, United States

Researchers

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 below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-09 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.