Could brain inflammation cause loss of pleasure and motivation?
Probing the Nexus: Unraveling Neuroinflammation's Link to Anhedonia
['FUNDING_R03'] · AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT AUBURN · NIH-11419052
Looks at whether blood and brain inflammation are tied to reduced pleasure and motivation in teens and adults.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R03'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT AUBURN (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Auburn, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11419052 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This project uses existing health and brain imaging data from large studies of adults (UK Biobank) and adolescents (ABCD) to explore why some people experience anhedonia. Researchers will apply a specialized MRI method (diffusion basis spectrum imaging) to search for signs of neuroinflammation in brain reward regions and compare those signals with blood inflammation markers and symptom reports. The team will examine both single-timepoint and follow-up data to see whether neuroinflammation helps explain changes in anhedonia over time. Because this is a secondary analysis of existing datasets, no new scans or clinic visits are being requested from patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: The most relevant people are adolescents and adults who experience low pleasure or motivation (anhedonia) and whose health or imaging data are included in large research databases.
Not a fit: People without symptoms of anhedonia or those looking for immediate clinical treatment would not directly benefit from this secondary-data project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal inflammation-driven pathways behind anhedonia and point toward new treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: Previous research has linked blood inflammation to anhedonia, but imaging of brain inflammation—especially using longitudinal approaches—is relatively new and not yet widely confirmed.
Where this research is happening
Auburn, UNITED STATES
- AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT AUBURN — Auburn, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: ZHANG, WEI — AUBURN UNIVERSITY AT AUBURN
- Study coordinator: ZHANG, WEI
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.