Brain iron levels and thinking in psychotic disorders
Iron deficits and their relationship with symptoms and cognition in Psychotic Spectrum Disorders
This work looks at whether lower iron in certain deep brain areas links to worse symptoms and thinking in teens and adults with psychotic-spectrum disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11264751 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would get advanced MRI scans that measure iron in deep brain regions thought to be involved in psychosis. The team will compare brain iron in teens and adults with psychotic-spectrum disorders to people without those conditions and link iron levels to symptom ratings and cognitive tests. They will also draw blood to compare standard iron tests with brain iron, since brain iron can be low even when blood tests look normal. Participation requires coming to NYU for scans and batteries of clinical and cognitive testing.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Teens (ages 12–20) and adults with a diagnosed psychotic-spectrum disorder who can travel to NYU and tolerate MRI and cognitive testing.
Not a fit: People without psychotic disorders, or those who cannot undergo MRI (for example due to metal implants or severe claustrophobia) may not be eligible or benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If lower brain iron is tied to worse symptoms or cognition, this could point to new ways to detect risk and to develop iron-targeted therapies or preventative strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Epidemiologic and animal studies have linked iron deficiency to psychosis risk, but direct brain-iron MRI work in patients is uncommon, making this a relatively novel approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- New York University School of Medicine — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lazar, Mariana — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Lazar, Mariana
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.