NIH-funded research R01 grant

How aging affects emotion regulation in mood disorders

Official title: Brain-based Mechanisms of Emotion Regulation in Aging and Mood Disorders

Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-10974481 · Data updated 2026-11-12

This study is looking at how getting older affects the way people with mood disorders, like bipolar disorder and depression, manage their emotions, and it hopes to find ways to improve emotional health for older adults.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionBrigham and Women's Hospital
NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Boston, United States)
Project startDecember 15, 2020
Project endOctober 31, 2025
Funding year2025
Award (this year)$684,676
NIH project number5R01MH124381-05
Project IDNIH-10974481 on NIH RePORTER

Who could benefit from this research

Could help

Ideal candidates for this research include adults aged 41-80 with stable mood disorders like bipolar disorder or major depressive disorder.

Less likely to help

Patients outside the age range of 41-80 or those without mood disorders may not benefit from this research.

What this research studies

This research investigates how aging influences the ability to regulate emotions in individuals with mood disorders like bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder. It aims to understand the brain mechanisms involved in emotion regulation and how these mechanisms may differ between older adults with mood disorders and healthy individuals. By enrolling a diverse group of participants aged 41-80, the study will assess various factors such as cognitive control and emotional biases to identify age-related changes in emotion regulation. The findings could help tailor interventions for better emotional health in older adults.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved strategies for managing mood disorders in older adults, enhancing their emotional well-being.

How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding emotion regulation across different age groups, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

  • Brigham and Women's Hospital
    Boston, United States
    Active

Researchers

  • Principal investigator: Burdick, Katherine Elizabeth — Brigham and Women's Hospital
  • Study coordinator: Burdick, Katherine Elizabeth

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

  • Improving emotion regulation in bipolar mood disorders

    This study is exploring new ways to help people with bipolar disorder manage their emotions better by using special brain imaging and stimulation techniques, with the goal of creating personalized treatments that work more effectively than what’s currently available.

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    NIH research New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · New York, United States · NIH-11349216

  • Synaptic changes in mood disorders and suicide risk

    This project studies brain Synapse signals in people with mood disorders, including those with a recent suicide attempt, to understand what changes are linked to suicide risk and how ketamine might work.

    NIH research New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · New York, United States · NIH-11349215

  • Integrating immune and brain reward biology in veterans with mood problems

    A study in veterans with mood disorders looks at how the immune system and brain reward circuits may work together to drive depression and suicide risk.

    NIH research James J Peters VA Medical Center · Bronx, United States · NIH-11320777

  • Mindfulness to reduce mood swings in teens at risk for mood disorders

    This project teaches mindfulness skills to teens and young adults with family histories of mood disorders to help reduce frequent mood swings and improve sustained attention.

    NIH research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · Pittsburgh, United States · NIH-11285153

  • Understanding how calcium channels affect substance use and mood disorders

    This study is looking at how problems with drugs and mood can affect each other, especially when someone is trying to stay off drugs, and it’s testing how certain brain channels might help us find better treatments for people dealing with both issues.

    NIH research Yale University · New Haven, United States · NIH-11144027

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.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.