How early antipsychotic use affects brain development
Official title: Brain Development after Early-Life Antipsychotic Treatment
Funded at Northern Kentucky University · NIH-11324506 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research looks at whether giving antipsychotic medicines when kids are very young changes brain development and later responses to stimulant drugs.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Northern Kentucky University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Highland Heights, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2023 |
| Project end | April 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $137,000 |
| NIH project number | 5R16GM149498-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11324506 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Families of children who received antipsychotic treatment in early childhood, or adults who were exposed to antipsychotics as children, would be most interested in and potentially affected by the results.
✕Less likely to help
People who never had early-life antipsychotic exposure or whose conditions are unrelated to dopamine-targeting drugs may not get direct benefit from this animal-focused research.
What this research studies
The project treats young animals with antipsychotic medication early in development and later measures their activity, response to stimulant drugs like amphetamine, and dopamine-related brain changes. The team uses rat models and behavioral and brain chemistry tests to track long-term effects. Undergraduate students at Northern Kentucky University participate in running experiments and analyzing results. The work builds on prior findings that early risperidone exposure produced hyperactivity and stronger stimulant responses in adult rats.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, the findings could help doctors and families understand long-term brain and behavioral risks of early antipsychotic use and guide safer prescribing for children.
How similar studies have gone: Previous animal studies, including the investigators' own rat work, found that early-life risperidone led to hyperactivity and increased responses to stimulants, but translation to human outcomes remains unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Northern Kentucky University
Highland Heights, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bardgett, Mark Edward — Northern Kentucky University
- Study coordinator: Bardgett, Mark Edward
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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.