Traumatic brain injury in at-risk individuals: following 300 people over time
Official title: A longitudinal study of traumatic brain injury in a high-risk population
Funded at Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute · NIH-11353890 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project follows 300 adults with a history of traumatic brain injury to see how cognitive abilities and brain scans change over several years.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Albuquerque, United States) |
| Project start | August 4, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $634,244 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS126742-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11353890 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults aged 35 and older with a history of traumatic brain injury and who are part of or accessible through forensic facility settings.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without a history of brain injury or those not in the targeted age range may not benefit.
What this research studies
If you have had a traumatic brain injury, this study will track you over time to understand how brain aging and cognitive function progress. Researchers will collect medical history, cognitive tests, and advanced brain images using mobile MRI units at forensic facilities. The study builds on a large existing group of over 4,000 participants and uses a longitudinal design to map different trajectories of impairment. Participation involves follow-up visits and neuropsychological assessments to identify patterns linked with outcomes like daily functioning and behavior change.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could lead to better prediction and management of cognitive decline after brain injury, potentially guiding personalized care.
How similar studies have gone: Prior long-term studies with large datasets and neuroimaging have shown meaningful insights into brain injury trajectories, supporting this approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute
Albuquerque, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kiehl, Kent a — Lovelace Biomedical Research Institute
- Study coordinator: Kiehl, Kent a
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
AI-enhanced virtual reality tool to support remote emergency brain surgery training in Tanzania
A new AI-powered virtual reality tool helps non-experts in low-resource areas get real-time remote guidance for emergency traumatic brain injury surgery.
-
How head injury affects the heart and blood vessels
This project aims to find out whether traumatic brain injuries make people more likely to develop hardened arteries and heart problems, especially among veterans.
-
Neural targets for improving function in Veterans with alcohol use disorder and mild brain injury
This project tests a targeted brain-stimulation approach to help Veterans who have both alcohol use problems and mild traumatic brain injury improve daily functioning.
-
How head injuries affect the heart and blood vessels
This project is looking at whether past traumatic brain injuries cause changes in blood vessels and raise the risk of heart disease for people who have had head injuries.
-
Keeping oxygen in the injured brain after severe head trauma
This project uses a small brain oxygen monitor to guide ICU care for people with severe traumatic brain injury in hopes of improving recovery.
-
How head injuries affect Parkinson's over time
Researchers will follow people with Parkinson's disease to learn how past mild-to-moderate head injuries relate to thinking, mood, movement, brain changes, and quality of life.
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.