Iron‑deficiency anemia and its impact on brain function in late childhood
Official title: Neurocognitive Effects of Late-Childhood Iron Deficiency Anemia
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11394540 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how iron-deficiency anemia in late childhood and adolescence may affect thinking skills and brain development in young females.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $758,703 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL169591-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11394540 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Females aged 12 to 21 years who have been diagnosed with iron-deficiency anemia.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without iron-deficiency anemia or outside the 12–21 age range are unlikely to benefit directly from this study.
What this research studies
Iron deficiency anemia in late childhood may stress the brain and alter cognitive performance. The project will enroll 88 adolescent to young adult females with IDA to measure brain metabolism and connectivity using MRI and to evaluate cognitive function at diagnosis and over time. By linking metabolic changes in the brain with cognitive outcomes, the study aims to understand reversible versus lasting effects of IDA on brain development. Findings could inform screening timing, treatment strategies, and potentially improve educational and health outcomes for affected patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the research could lead to earlier identification and better management of IDA to protect brain development and cognitive health in affected youths.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work suggests a link between IDA and cognitive changes, but this project seeks to clarify brain metabolic and connectivity mechanisms in late childhood/early adulthood.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fields, Melanie Erin — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Fields, Melanie Erin
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Brain blood flow and oxygen use in adult iron deficiency anemia
This study looks at how moderate iron deficiency anemia in adults affects brain blood flow, oxygen use, and thinking abilities, and whether iron treatment can reverse any problems.
-
Machine learning to predict iron deficiency risk in babies based on mom’s stress during pregnancy
A fast, data-driven approach uses a mother’s stress during pregnancy to help predict which babies might be at risk for iron deficiency anemia.
-
Iron-deficiency anemia treatment plan for adults undergoing surgery
Aimed at adults having surgery, this project tests a practical plan to identify and treat iron deficiency anemia to improve recovery and reduce complications.
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How iron-deficiency anemia in later childhood affects the brain and thinking
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.
-
Predicting pregnancy and newborn iron-deficiency risk linked to stress during pregnancy
This project uses computer models to predict which pregnant people and their newborns might develop iron-deficiency anemia after stress during pregnancy.
-
How iron-deficiency anemia affects adult brain blood flow, oxygen, and memory
This project tests whether treating moderate iron-deficiency anemia can improve brain blood flow, oxygen use, and thinking in adult women.
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.