How iron-deficiency anemia in later childhood affects the brain and thinking
Neurocognitive Effects of Late-Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia
['FUNDING_R01'] · WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY · NIH-11169048
This project looks at girls and young women aged 12–21 with iron-deficiency anemia to see how it changes brain metabolism, blood flow, and thinking using cognitive tests and MRI scans.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11169048 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you are a girl or young woman aged 12–21 with iron-deficiency anemia, researchers will invite you to do memory and attention tests and have MRI scans that measure brain blood flow, oxygen use, and brain connections at the time your anemia is diagnosed and at follow-up. The team plans to enroll about 88 participants and will link the MRI measures to performance on cognitive tests to understand how anemia affects the brain. They will look for signs that some brain changes improve with treatment while others may last longer. The goal is to map short- and long-term effects of late-childhood anemia on brain structure, function, and thinking.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are females aged 12–21 who have been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia.
Not a fit: People without iron-deficiency anemia, males, or those outside the 12–21 age range are unlikely to be eligible or directly benefit from this specific project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could show which brain effects of late-childhood iron-deficiency anemia are reversible and guide better timing for screening and treatment.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have linked early- and late-childhood iron deficiency to poorer cognitive performance, but applying MRI measures of cerebral metabolism and connectivity in this age group is relatively new.
Where this research is happening
SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES
- WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY — SAINT LOUIS, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: FIELDS, MELANIE ERIN — WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: FIELDS, MELANIE ERIN
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 below.