How HIV and heavy drinking change the aging brain
Official title: Tracking HIV Infection & Alcohol Abuse CNS Comorbidity with Neuroimaging
Funded at Sri International · NIH-11168684 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will use repeated brain scans and movement and thinking tests to find why people living with HIV—especially those with alcohol use disorder—may have faster declines in balance, walking, and cognition.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sri International NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Menlo Park, United States) |
| Project start | September 30, 2007 |
| Project end | August 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $901,152 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA017347-18 |
| Project ID | NIH-11168684 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults living with HIV, particularly older adults and those with current or past Alcohol Use Disorder who can undergo MRI and attend repeated study visits, would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People without HIV, those who cannot have MRI scans (for example, due to implanted metal devices), or those unwilling to complete repeated visits are unlikely to benefit directly from participating.
What this research studies
This project follows men and women aging with HIV, some with alcohol use disorder, over time with a suite of MRI methods to look for signs of tissue damage such as white matter changes and iron buildup. Participants will have repeated brain scans, tests of walking, balance, and thinking, and clinical histories collected across visits. The team will link imaging markers to how quickly motor and cognitive abilities change to find patterns of accelerated brain aging. Results aim to identify imaging signs that predict who is most at risk of decline so future treatments can target those processes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could enable earlier detection of brain changes and guide treatments or prevention strategies to protect thinking, balance, and walking in people with HIV and alcohol problems.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies, including the team's earlier work, have linked white matter damage and iron deposition to cognitive and motor problems, but applying longitudinal neuroimaging specifically to HIV with alcohol comorbidity is a newer extension.
Where this research is happening
-
Sri International
Menlo Park, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Pfefferbaum, Adolf — Sri International
- Study coordinator: Pfefferbaum, Adolf
Related research
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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.