Understanding Brain Health in Young People at Risk for Type 2 Diabetes
Brain Health Across the Metabolic Continuum in Youth at Risk for T2D
This project looks at how brain health changes in young people who are at risk for developing type 2 diabetes.
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 ID | NIH-11142556 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We know that type 2 diabetes can affect brain health in adults, sometimes increasing the risk for conditions like Alzheimer's disease. With more young people developing type 2 diabetes, we want to understand if these brain changes also happen earlier in life and how they progress. Our work involves looking closely at the brain health of young individuals who are at different stages of risk for type 2 diabetes, from those with obesity to those already diagnosed. By doing this, we hope to discover the specific factors that influence brain structure and function in these young people.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be young individuals across a range of body weights and metabolic health, including those with obesity or type 2 diabetes.
Not a fit: Patients who are not in the youth age range or do not have risk factors for type 2 diabetes may not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us identify early signs of brain complications in youth with or at risk for type 2 diabetes, leading to better prevention or treatment strategies.
How similar studies have performed: While brain complications in adult type 2 diabetes are recognized, understanding these effects specifically in youth and across the metabolic spectrum is a relatively new area of focus.
Where this research is happening
Saint Louis, United States
- Washington University — Saint Louis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hershey, Tamara G — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Hershey, Tamara G
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.