Nutritional gaps and dopamine in teens with anorexia nervosa
Official title: Nutritional deficiency and dopamine: A neurodevelopmental study of starvation effects in adolescent anorexia nervosa
Funded at New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC · NIH-10687003 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how severe dietary restriction in teens with anorexia nervosa may affect the brain’s dopamine system and development.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | August 19, 2022 |
| Project end | June 30, 2030 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $734,662 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH131231-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10687003 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adolescents and teens diagnosed with anorexia nervosa who are within the typical age range studied (roughly early to mid-teen years).
✕Less likely to help
Teens without anorexia nervosa or outside the adolescent developmental window may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
Adolescents with anorexia nervosa often restrict calories, especially fats, which can impact brain development and mood. This study focuses on how dietary gaps, particularly polyunsaturated fats and the amino acid tyrosine, influence dopamine function during adolescence. By examining nutrition, brain chemistry, and behavioral symptoms, the research aims to understand how malnutrition interacts with affective disorders in teens. Findings could inform strategies to support healthy brain development and mood in affected youth.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could inform nutritional and therapeutic approaches to support brain development, mood, and recovery in adolescents with anorexia nervosa.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work suggests nutrition can influence dopamine pathways in adolescents, but direct links in anorexia nervosa remain an active area of study.
Where this research is happening
-
New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Steinglass, Joanna E — New York State Psychiatric Institute Dba Research Foundation for Mental Hygiene, INC
- Study coordinator: Steinglass, Joanna E
Related research
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A study tests if an online guided self-help version of family-based treatment works as well as standard treatment for teens with anorexia nervosa, in real-world clinics.
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Online guided family-based program for adolescents with anorexia nervosa
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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.