Neurobehavioral effects of childhood brain injuries and addiction risk in twins
Official title: Neurobehavioral consequences of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and addiction risk: a cotwin-control study
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11377341 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This grant studies how mild traumatic brain injury in childhood might influence behavior and the chance of developing addictive behaviors later in life, using twins to understand what’s due to injury versus other factors.
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 | September 30, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $698,328 |
| NIH project number | 5R01DA058114-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11377341 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents and young adults who have experienced a mild traumatic brain injury and their cotwins.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without a history of mTBI or who are not part of the cotwin design may not directly benefit from this study.
What this research studies
The study follows twins over time to see how mild brain injuries during childhood or adolescence affect thinking, behavior, and risk for addiction. It uses multiple brain imaging methods and detailed behavioral assessments to track changes as the brain develops. By comparing cotwins where one twin had an injury and the other did not, researchers aim to separate injury effects from family or pre-existing differences. The project plans to collect data across several years to map long-term outcomes and identify potential targets for prevention or intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the findings could help parents and clinicians understand which long-term risks are linked to childhood brain injuries and guide prevention and support strategies.
How similar studies have gone: Twin-based designs have shown promise in separating injury effects from family factors in brain outcomes, though long-term links to addiction require further validation.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Anokhin, Andrey P. — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Anokhin, Andrey P.
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Understanding Brain Changes After Childhood Head Injury and Addiction Risk
This project looks at how mild head injuries in childhood might affect brain development and increase the chance of addiction later on.
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Effects of mild traumatic brain injury on behavior and addiction risk in adolescents
This study is looking at how mild traumatic brain injuries (like concussions) can affect kids and teens over time, especially in relation to the risk of developing addiction, and it’s designed for families with twins to help us understand these effects better.
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Mild Traumatic Brain Injury: A High-Tech Look Inside the Brain with Diffusion MRI
Researchers are using advanced brain imaging to find biological clues in people who have mild traumatic brain injuries.
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How neuromodulation may help headaches after a mild brain injury
A small study tests whether stimulating the brain with a noninvasive technique can lessen persistent headaches in people who recently had a concussion.
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New ways to treat chronic pain after mild brain injuries
A research team is studying why some people develop long-lasting pain after a mild head injury and how brain inflammation contributes to it.
-
Retraining brain pathways to boost thinking after a mild head injury
A clinical trial tests a brain-training program to improve thinking and memory in people who have had a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
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.