Understanding stress, fitness, and brain health in Black emerging adults
Psychosocial stress, cardio-respiratory fitness, and the medial temporal hippocampal system in Black emerging adults
This work explores how stress and physical fitness affect brain areas important for memory and mood in young Black adults.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Boston University Medical Campus NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-10853054 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
We are looking at how ongoing stress and how fit someone is physically might change a part of the brain called the medial temporal hippocampal system in Black adults aged 18 to 25. This brain system is key for memory and is also linked to anxiety and depression. We want to understand the biological reasons behind these changes, as animal models suggest that exercise and stress have opposite effects on brain plasticity. By understanding these connections, we hope to learn more about how stress and fitness influence mental and brain health during this important life stage.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this type of research would be Black emerging adults between 18 and 25 years old.
Not a fit: Patients outside the specified age range or those not identifying as Black emerging adults would likely not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help us understand how to protect brain health and improve mental well-being in young adults facing chronic stress.
How similar studies have performed: While animal models and theoretical frameworks suggest connections between stress, fitness, and brain function, the specific neurobiological basis in humans is still largely unknown, making this a novel area of exploration.
Where this research is happening
Boston, United States
- Boston University Medical Campus — Boston, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schon, Karin — Boston University Medical Campus
- Study coordinator: Schon, Karin
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.