Fecal microbiome therapy to help older adults recover after brain injury

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

This project looks at whether transferring a healthy gut microbiome can lessen brain damage and improve thinking and movement after a brain injury in older adults. It builds on animal studies showing age-related differences in gut bacteria after injury and how a young microbiome might help. The study will use single-cell RNA sequencing to understand how brain immune cells respond over time after treatment in aged mice, laying the groundwork for future human work. The overall aim is to identify a new, gut-based approach to reduce neurodegeneration and cognitive problems after injury in older patients.

Why it matters

Where this research is happening

• University of Vermont & St Agric College
  Burlington, United States Active

Researchers

• Principal investigator: Davis Iv, Booker T — University of Vermont & St Agric College
• Study coordinator: Davis Iv, Booker T

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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• How gut microbes affect brain healing after traumatic brain injury

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  NIH research Northwestern University · Chicago, United States · NIH-11160638

• Effects of gut bacteria on brain health after traumatic injury

  This study is looking at how changes in gut bacteria after a traumatic brain injury might affect thinking and memory over time, and it hopes to find ways to help improve brain health by boosting the good bacteria that support brain function.

  NIH research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, United States · NIH-11034043

• Exploring gut bacteria treatments for Alzheimer's patients after brain injuries.

  This study is looking at how special treatments for gut health might help people with Alzheimer's who have also had brain injuries, by exploring how the bacteria in our gut can affect brain health and memory.

  NIH research Methodist Hospital Research Institute · Houston, United States · NIH-10929519

• Investigating the connection between gut health and brain injury recovery

  This study is looking at how a traumatic brain injury can change the bacteria in your gut and how that might affect your brain health, with the hope of finding ways to help you recover better, including trying out some dietary supplements that could improve gut health and brain function.

  NIH research Northwestern University at Chicago · Chicago, United States · NIH-10897173

• AI-enhanced virtual reality tool to support remote emergency brain surgery training in Tanzania

  A new AI-powered virtual reality tool helps non-experts in low-resource areas get real-time remote guidance for emergency traumatic brain injury surgery.

  NIH research Duke University · Durham, United States · NIH-11625286

About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.