How mild head injuries affect children's behavior, thinking, mental health, brain scans, and genes
Pediatric Mild Traumatic Brain Injury and the ABCD Study: A Prospective Behavioral, Psychiatric, Neurocognitive, Imaging, and Genetic Investigation
['FUNDING_R01'] · UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO · NIH-11312612
Researchers are using long-term brain scans, behavior tests, and genetic data from children to learn how mild head injuries affect thinking, behavior, and mental health.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11312612 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If your child was enrolled in the ABCD study as a 9–10 year old, this project compares kids who later had a mild head injury with those who had an accidental bone fracture or no injury. The team uses pre‑injury and post‑injury behavioral ratings, psychiatric measures, neurocognitive tests, and sequential structural and functional brain imaging. They will also examine genetic and family factors to see which preexisting traits predict different outcomes after a concussion. Findings come from a large, ongoing 21‑site U.S. cohort followed annually since 2016.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children who were enrolled in the ABCD study at age 9–10 and later experienced a mild traumatic brain injury (concussion) are the ideal candidates for this analysis.
Not a fit: Children with moderate or severe brain injuries, adults, or children not enrolled in the ABCD study (without pre‑injury data) are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Could help doctors predict which children are at higher risk for lasting thinking, behavior, or mental health problems after a concussion and guide better follow‑up care.
How similar studies have performed: Previous pediatric concussion research has had mixed, sometimes controversial results, and using rich pre‑injury longitudinal ABCD data is a relatively novel approach that may clarify prior inconsistencies.
Where this research is happening
LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO — LA JOLLA, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: MAX, JEFFREY EDWIN — UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO
- Study coordinator: MAX, JEFFREY EDWIN
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.
Conditions: Behavior Disorders, Candidate Disease Gene