Methamphetamine effects on the hippocampus (memory center)
Hippocampal Alteration in Methamphetamine Misuse
This project uses advanced brain scans to look for small changes in the hippocampus of adults who use methamphetamine to help explain memory problems.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Nebraska Lincoln NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Lincoln, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11335644 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you are an adult who uses or used methamphetamine, researchers would invite you to come to the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for brain imaging and memory testing. They will use standard MRI plus magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) to measure tiny structural and mechanical changes within different hippocampal subregions. The team will compare people with meth use to people without it and link imaging measures to memory performance. The goal is to better understand why memory problems happen with meth use and to identify sensitive imaging markers.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults aged 21 or older with current or prior methamphetamine use and concerns about memory would be the best fit for participation.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate addiction treatment, those under 21, or individuals with unstable medical or psychiatric conditions are unlikely to get direct clinical benefit from participating.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help detect early brain changes tied to meth-related memory loss and guide future treatments or monitoring.
How similar studies have performed: Prior MRI volume studies in meth users have shown inconsistent results, and applying MRE to hippocampal subfields is a newer approach that remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Lincoln, United States
- University of Nebraska Lincoln — Lincoln, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schwarb, Hillary — University of Nebraska Lincoln
- Study coordinator: Schwarb, Hillary
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.