Brain scans and blood tests for lingering neurologic symptoms after Lyme disease
Neuroimaging and blood markers in post treatment Lyme disease with persistent neurologic symptoms
This project uses brain imaging and blood tests to follow people treated for early Lyme disease who still have ongoing neurologic or cognitive symptoms over one year.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Johns Hopkins University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Baltimore, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11159491 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would have brain functional MRIs and blood draws shortly after finishing antibiotics, then again at 6 months and 12 months, while researchers compare your results to healthy people without Lyme disease. The team will look specifically at changes in white matter activity on fMRI alongside blood markers to see how these relate to thinking problems and patient-reported recovery. The researchers hypothesize that some white matter changes may be an adaptive healing response that comes with cognitive cost, and they will track whether those changes predict better or worse outcomes over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People who were treated for early Lyme disease (for example with an erythema migrans rash), have completed antibiotic therapy, and continue to have neurologic or cognitive symptoms and can undergo MRI and blood draws are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without ongoing neurologic symptoms after Lyme disease, or those who cannot have MRI scans (for example due to implants or severe claustrophobia), are unlikely to benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could clarify why some people have lasting cognitive symptoms after Lyme disease and identify brain or blood markers that predict recovery.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies, including preliminary work from this group, have found white matter changes and cognitive differences in post-treatment Lyme disease, but combining longitudinal fMRI with blood markers in the same patients is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
Baltimore, United States
- Johns Hopkins University — Baltimore, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Marvel, Cherie L — Johns Hopkins University
- Study coordinator: Marvel, Cherie L
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.