The relationship between biological aging and recovery after severe brain injuries

Epigenetic Age and Patient Outcomes after Severe Traumatic Brain Injury

NIH-funded research University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh · NIH-11166657

This study is looking at how the aging of your DNA might affect how well you recover after a serious brain injury, and it’s for patients who have gone through that experience, helping to find ways to predict recovery based on both biological and social factors.

Quick facts

Grant typeR01 grant
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionUniversity of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Pittsburgh, United States)
Project IDNIH-11166657 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates how biological aging, as measured by epigenetic changes in DNA, affects recovery outcomes for patients who have experienced severe traumatic brain injuries (TBI). By analyzing cerebrospinal fluid samples, the study aims to understand the impact of accelerated biological aging on recovery and the potential role of specific biomarkers in predicting patient outcomes. The research also explores how social factors may influence biological aging in these patients, providing a comprehensive view of recovery dynamics post-injury.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research include adults who have suffered a severe traumatic brain injury and are undergoing recovery.

Not a fit: Patients with mild brain injuries or those who do not have access to cerebrospinal fluid sampling may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved recovery strategies and personalized treatment plans for patients recovering from severe traumatic brain injuries.

How similar studies have performed: Other research has shown promising results in using epigenetic markers to predict health outcomes, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights.

Where this research is happening

Pittsburgh, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Conditions Acquired brain injury
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.