Improving memory and learning after brain injuries using vitamin A
Official title: Targeting Cholinergic Deficits with Retinoic Acid after TBI
Funded at University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-10741924 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at whether a vitamin A compound called all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) can help improve thinking and memory in people who have had a traumatic brain injury, by boosting a brain chemical that's important for learning.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R21 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project start | August 11, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $437,250 |
| NIH project number | 1R21NS130427-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-10741924 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals who have experienced a traumatic brain injury and are facing cognitive deficits, particularly in learning and memory.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced a traumatic brain injury or those with cognitive deficits due to other causes may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the potential of all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), a metabolite of vitamin A, to enhance cognitive function in individuals who have suffered traumatic brain injury (TBI). The study focuses on how ATRA may improve the function of acetylcholine, a neurotransmitter essential for learning and memory, which is often impaired after TBI. By examining the effects of ATRA on cholinergic deficits and related cognitive behaviors, the research aims to provide proof-of-concept evidence for a new therapeutic approach. Patients may benefit from this treatment if it proves effective in restoring cognitive abilities affected by TBI.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that significantly improve memory and learning in patients recovering from traumatic brain injuries.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of using ATRA for cognitive improvement after TBI is relatively novel, preliminary data suggests that similar methods have shown promise in enhancing memory retention in experimental models.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Dixon, C Edward — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Dixon, C 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.