Effects of a medication on brain function and thinking skills in veterans with schizophrenia
Official title: GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Effects on Neuronal Function and Cognition in Veterans with Schizophrenia
Funded at VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System · NIH-11054481 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how a medication called a GLP-1 receptor agonist might help improve thinking and brain function in veterans with schizophrenia, using special imaging to see how it affects their brain activity.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Aurora, UNITED STATES) |
| Project start | April 1, 2025 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| NIH project number | 1I01CX002834-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11054481 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are veterans diagnosed with schizophrenia who experience cognitive difficulties.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of schizophrenia or those who do not experience cognitive deficits may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how a specific medication, known as a GLP-1 receptor agonist, can improve brain function and cognitive abilities in veterans diagnosed with schizophrenia. The study focuses on understanding the relationship between brain activity, particularly in the hippocampus, and cognitive deficits that affect daily life. By using advanced imaging techniques, researchers aim to identify changes in brain function that correlate with improvements in thinking skills. The ultimate goal is to develop effective treatments that enhance cognitive performance in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly improve cognitive function and quality of life for veterans with schizophrenia.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promise in targeting cognitive deficits in schizophrenia, but this specific approach using GLP-1 receptor agonists is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
Aurora, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Tregellas, Jason R — VA Eastern Colorado Health Care System
- Study coordinator: Tregellas, Jason R
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Home-based aerobic exercise plus online brain training to improve thinking after a first schizophrenia episode
This program combines guided aerobic exercise with web-based cognitive training delivered by telehealth to help thinking and daily functioning for people after a first schizophrenia episode.
-
Using telehealth to improve thinking skills through exercise and cognitive training for people with schizophrenia.
This study is looking at a new way to help people who have had their first episode of schizophrenia by using online exercise and brain training to boost their thinking skills and overall well-being.
-
Investigating brain stimulation effects on cognitive control in schizophrenia
This study is looking at how a gentle brain stimulation technique called tDCS can help people with schizophrenia improve their focus and thinking skills by targeting a specific area of the brain, and it involves monitoring brain activity while participants receive this treatment.
-
Understanding how CHR individuals process social cues through sight and sound
This project studies how people at clinical high risk for schizophrenia interpret social cues from movies and spoken stories, and how their brain activity relates to these abilities.
-
Understanding social cognition deficits in individuals at high risk for schizophrenia
This study is looking at how people who are at risk of developing schizophrenia understand social situations, like reading facial expressions or following conversations, by watching movie clips and listening to stories, to find ways to help them improve their social skills.
-
Understanding social interaction challenges in youth with autism and schizophrenia
This study is looking at how the brains of young people with autism and schizophrenia work when it comes to social interactions, hoping to find ways to help them improve their social skills and experiences.
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.