Investigating how estrogen affects brain health in adolescents with restrictive eating disorders
Official title: Estrogen's Neuroprotective Effects on the Brain-Barrier in Restrictive Eating Disorders
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10918324 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how estrogen affects brain health in teenagers with restrictive eating disorders and whether giving them estrogen can help reduce inflammation and improve brain function.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $180,247 |
| NIH project number | 5K23MH127465-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-10918324 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adolescent females aged 12-20 who are diagnosed with restrictive eating disorders and may be experiencing estrogen deficiency.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have restrictive eating disorders or who are not within the adolescent age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the role of estrogen in protecting the brain barrier in adolescents suffering from restrictive eating disorders (R-EDs). It aims to explore how estrogen deficiency impacts inflammation and brain function, and whether estrogen replacement therapy can improve these conditions. By using advanced neuroimaging techniques, the study will assess changes in brain structure and function in response to estrogen treatment compared to a placebo. The ultimate goal is to enhance clinical outcomes for young patients with R-EDs.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatment options that improve brain health and overall outcomes for adolescents with restrictive eating disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in using estrogen therapy for neuroprotection, suggesting that this approach may be beneficial for patients with similar conditions.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Breithaupt, Lauren — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Breithaupt, Lauren
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Global brain imaging study to understand anorexia in teens and how it affects outcomes
A large international study using brain scans to learn why anorexia nervosa develops, how it affects teens, and what predicts recovery or relapse.
-
Anxiety and body-sense as a warning for eating disorders in kids
This project looks at whether anxiety and how kids sense their internal body signals can signal the kind of eating problems that lead to eating disorders in children and teens.
-
FlexED: a fun digital program to help teens with eating concerns
A teen-friendly digital program uses gamification and acceptance-based techniques to help 15-year-olds manage body image and related eating concerns earlier, before patterns become hard to change.
-
3-D bedside scanning to track malnutrition in anorexia nervosa
A bedside 3D optical scan method will help track malnutrition in adolescents with anorexia nervosa during hospitalization.
-
Reducing minority stress to help sexual minority adults with eating disorders
This project tests a new, identity-affirming treatment approach designed to help sexual minority adults with eating disorders by addressing stigma-related stress and coping skills.
-
Restrictive eating disorders and brain white matter development in youths
Researchers will study how restrictive eating disorders affect brain white matter development in young people using brain scans and related data.
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.