Effects of mild traumatic brain injury on behavior and addiction risk in adolescents
Official title: Neurobehavioral consequences of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and addiction risk: a cotwin-control study
Funded at Washington University · NIH-10933538 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how mild traumatic brain injuries (like concussions) can affect kids and teens over time, especially in relation to the risk of developing addiction, and it’s designed for families with twins to help us understand these effects better.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $699,704 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA058114-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10933538 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescents aged 12 to 20 who have sustained a mild traumatic brain injury.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced a mild traumatic brain injury or are outside the age range of 12 to 20 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the long-term effects of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) on the developing brains of children and adolescents, particularly focusing on how these effects may increase the risk of addiction. Using a cotwin-control design, the study will follow participants over time and employ advanced neuroimaging techniques alongside neurobehavioral assessments to gather comprehensive data. By comparing twins, the research aims to isolate the impact of mTBI from other pre-existing conditions that could influence behavior. This approach seeks to provide a clearer understanding of the neurobehavioral consequences of mTBI during critical developmental periods.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved prevention and intervention strategies for addiction in adolescents who have experienced mild traumatic brain injuries.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the neurobehavioral impacts of brain injuries, but this specific approach using cotwin-control design is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anokhin, Andrey P. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Anokhin, Andrey P.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Neurobehavioral effects of childhood brain injuries and addiction risk in twins
This grant studies how mild traumatic brain injury in childhood might influence behavior and the chance of developing addictive behaviors later in life, using twins to understand what’s due to injury versus other factors.
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Understanding Brain Changes After Childhood Head Injury and Addiction Risk
This project looks at how mild head injuries in childhood might affect brain development and increase the chance of addiction later on.
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Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A High-Tech Look Inside the Brain with Diffusion MRI
Researchers are using advanced brain imaging to find biological clues in people who have mild traumatic brain injuries.
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How neuromodulation may help headaches after a mild brain injury
A small study tests whether stimulating the brain with a noninvasive technique can lessen persistent headaches in people who recently had a concussion.
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New ways to treat chronic pain after mild brain injuries
A research team is studying why some people develop long-lasting pain after a mild head injury and how brain inflammation contributes to it.
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Retraining brain pathways to boost thinking after a mild head injury
A clinical trial tests a brain-training program to improve thinking and memory in people who have had a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
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.