Effects of folic acid supplements during pregnancy on mental health in youth
Official title: Longitudinal neuroprotectiveeffects of periconceptional folic acid supplements in help-seeking youth with psychiatric symptomsand healthy controls
Funded at Massachusetts General Hospital · NIH-10852967 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how taking folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy might help improve the mental health of kids and teens, especially in reducing the risk of conditions like autism and psychosis, by comparing those with and without psychiatric symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts General Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 1, 2020 |
| Project end | May 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $991,176 |
| NIH project number | 5R01MH120402-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-10852967 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant individuals and their children, particularly those with a family history of mental health disorders.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or those who do not have children may not receive direct benefits from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how taking folic acid supplements before and during pregnancy can influence the mental health of children and adolescents. It examines the long-term effects of prenatal folic acid exposure on brain development and the risk of psychiatric disorders, including autism and psychosis. By comparing youth with psychiatric symptoms to healthy controls, the study aims to identify protective factors associated with folic acid supplementation. The methodology includes tracking brain development changes and assessing mental health outcomes over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental health outcomes for children and adolescents by highlighting the importance of prenatal nutrition.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have shown promising results regarding the protective effects of prenatal folic acid on mental health, suggesting that this research builds on established findings.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts General Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Roffman, Joshua Lawrence — Massachusetts General Hospital
- Study coordinator: Roffman, Joshua Lawrence
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Accessory breathing muscles in people with chronic neck pain
This study compares how accessory chest and neck muscles work in people with chronic neck pain vs. healthy individuals to see how they relate to diaphragm function and overall breathing.
-
Multiomic data study in South Carolina Medicaid patients with Type 2 diabetes and healthy controls
This study tests whether combining genetic, molecular, clinical, wearable, and lifestyle data in SC Medicaid patients with Type 2 diabetes, and in healthy controls, can help predict kidney disease and diabetes progression.
-
Effects of exogenous ketones on brain energy and thinking in older adults with prediabetes
In older adults with prediabetes, researchers will test if a single dose of a ketone supplement can boost brain energy use and processing speed compared with people with normal blood sugar.
-
Safety and tolerability testing of VVZ-2471 in healthy adults
This study tests whether VVZ-2471 is safe and tolerable in healthy adults who don’t use illicit drugs.
-
Immediate effects of graded motor imagery for chronic ankle instability
This trial will test whether graded motor imagery produces quick improvements in pain, muscle strength, stiffness, function, and perceived stability for adults with chronic ankle instability compared with healthy people.
-
Ultralow-dose PET imaging of somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) uptake
This study will test whether an ultralow-dose 68Ga-Dotatate PET scan on a high-sensitivity scanner can detect SSTR2 uptake in adults with and without neuroendocrine tumors.
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.