Brain control and inflammation affecting walking in older adults with HIV
Central Control and Neuroinflammatory Mechanisms of Locomotion in Older Adults with HIV
This research looks at whether changes in brain movement-control circuits and ongoing inflammation affect walking and fall risk in people 50 and older living with HIV.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Albert Einstein College of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Bronx, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11233290 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would take part in walking tests that include doing a thinking task while you walk, repeated several times to see learning and consistency. Researchers will measure brain activity during walking with a safe wearable device (fNIRS), get detailed brain scans (MRI), and test blood markers linked to inflammation. The project compares 120 people with HIV aged 50+ to 120 people without HIV to find patterns tied to poorer walking and higher fall risk. Some participants may also do training to see if walking under attention-demanding conditions can improve over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults aged 50 or older who are living with HIV and who may have concerns about walking, balance, or falls.
Not a fit: People younger than 50, those without HIV, or individuals with severe mobility or medical issues that prevent safe participation in walking tests may not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help identify who is at higher risk of falls and point to training or treatments to improve walking and reduce falls in older people with HIV.
How similar studies have performed: Dual-task walking tests, fNIRS, and MRI have been useful in studying falls and brain control of walking in older adults, but applying these tools to link neuroinflammation and training effects specifically in older people with HIV is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
Bronx, United States
- Albert Einstein College of Medicine — Bronx, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holtzer, Roee — Albert Einstein College of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Holtzer, Roee
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.