# Neurocognitive effects of iron deficiency in blood donors.

> **NIH NIH R01** · COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES · 2020 · $590,148

## Abstract

The overall goal of this ancillary study is to determine if iron deficiency in frequent whole blood donors
adversely affects their neurocognitive function. Over 15 million red blood cell units are donated annually in
the United States. Despite fulfilling all requirements for blood donation, almost two-thirds of the women, and
half of the men, who are regular blood donors are iron deficient. The overall intent of this study is to develop a
chain of evidence linking iron repletion in iron-deficient donors to (i) increases of iron in specific brain structures
to (ii) improved processing speed and memory with improved efficiency and connectivity in related functional
networks by functional MRI to (iii) improved performance on neurocognitive testing.
To this end, we will recruit from a prospective, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled parent trial of
iron-deficient regular blood donors. In Aim #1, we will determine whether iron repletion of iron-deficient blood
donors improves neurocognitive test performance. In Aim #2, we will determine whether iron repletion
improves processing speed and episodic memory by altering activity and connectivity in specific functional
networks at resting state. In Aim #3, we will determine whether iron repletion increases iron concentrations in
specific brain structures. The neurocognitive impact of iron deficiency due to frequent blood donation has not
been rigorously examined and this critical knowledge gap is addressed by this proposed ancillary study.
Completing this study will provide definitive evidence for the presence or absence of iron deficiency-induced
neurocognitive and neurological functional deficits in frequent blood donors. Our results will lead to improved
policies and practices regarding iron supplementation, iron monitoring, and donation frequency.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9839669
- **Project number:** 5R01HL139489-03
- **Recipient organization:** COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY HEALTH SCIENCES
- **Principal Investigator:** Eldad Arie Hod
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $590,148
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-12-15 → 2021-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9839669

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9839669, Neurocognitive effects of iron deficiency in blood donors. (5R01HL139489-03). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9839669. Licensed CC0.

---

*[NIH grants dataset](/datasets/nih-grants) · CC0 1.0*