Investigating the impact of opioid use disorder on brain health and memory.
Penn PET Addiction Center of Excellence (PACE)
This study is looking at how using opioids and experiencing overdoses might affect brain health, especially in ways that are similar to Alzheimer's disease, and it's for people who have a history of opioid use to help us understand how these factors impact memory and thinking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | P30 center grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pennsylvania NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Philadelphia, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10713668 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research explores how opioid use disorder (OUD) and non-fatal opioid overdoses affect brain health, particularly focusing on Alzheimer's disease-like changes in the brain. Using advanced imaging techniques like PET/CT and MRI, the study will assess brain tau deposition and morphology in individuals with a history of opioid use. Participants will be grouped based on their history of overdose and opioid dependence, allowing researchers to compare brain responses during memory tasks. The goal is to better understand the neurocognitive impairments associated with OUD and their potential link to Alzheimer's disease.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates include individuals with a history of opioid use disorder, particularly those who have experienced non-fatal overdoses, as well as healthy controls.
Not a fit: Patients who do not have a history of opioid use disorder or related cognitive impairments may not benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved understanding and treatment strategies for cognitive impairments in individuals with opioid use disorder.
How similar studies have performed: While the specific effects of non-fatal overdoses on tau deposition in humans are novel, related research has shown that opioid use can lead to significant cognitive impairments.
Where this research is happening
Philadelphia, United States
- University of Pennsylvania — Philadelphia, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mach, Robert H — University of Pennsylvania
- Study coordinator: Mach, Robert H
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.