Understanding how aging affects brain health in people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
Official title: Multidimensional aging trajectories in mid to late-life psychosis (MAP)
Funded at University of Alabama at Birmingham · NIH-11001588 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how getting older affects people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, especially how their brains change over time, to help find better ways to support their health as they age.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Alabama at Birmingham NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Birmingham, United States) |
| Project start | December 15, 2023 |
| Project end | October 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $943,424 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH135451-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11001588 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia spectrum disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have schizophrenia spectrum disorders or are under 21 years old may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how aging impacts individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders (SSD), focusing on the changes in brain structure and function that may occur as they age. The study aims to fill critical gaps in knowledge about the aging process in SSD by examining brain aging trajectories and identifying potential treatment targets. Using advanced neuroimaging techniques, researchers will analyze the relationship between brain health, cognitive function, and energy metabolism in these patients. The ultimate goal is to develop interventions that could prevent or mitigate the effects of abnormal aging in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new treatments that improve brain health and cognitive function in individuals with schizophrenia spectrum disorders as they age.
How similar studies have gone: While the concept of aberrant aging in schizophrenia is emerging, this specific approach using multimodal neuroimaging techniques is relatively novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Alabama at Birmingham
Birmingham, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Lee, Junghee — University of Alabama at Birmingham
- Study coordinator: Lee, Junghee
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Brain aging and thinking changes in adults with psychosis
This project looks at how brain structure, energy use, and thinking skills change with age in adults with schizophrenia‑spectrum psychosis.
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Understanding how brain resilience and multiple brain pathologies influence aging and Alzheimer's disease
A long-term study follows older adults to learn how resilience to brain changes helps reduce dementia risk and what biological factors are linked to better cognitive aging.
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.