How teen and young adult drinking affects brain development
NCANDA: Data Analysis Resource
['FUNDING_OTHER'] · STANFORD UNIVERSITY · NIH-11115650
This project follows teens and young adults to see how drinking during adolescence is linked to changes in the brain, thinking, sleep, and mental health.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_OTHER'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | STANFORD UNIVERSITY (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (STANFORD, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11115650 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
If you join, you would be followed from your teen years into young adulthood with yearly brain scans, thinking tests, questionnaires, and biological samples. The study enrolled about 831 people across five U.S. sites who were mostly light or non-drinkers and has maintained high retention for years. Data include multimodal MRI (structural, diffusion, resting-state and task fMRI), cognitive and clinical measures, mobile app surveys, and new sleep and physical activity tracking. The team uses these repeated measures to relate patterns of alcohol use in adolescence to changes in brain structure, function, cognition, and mental health over time.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Teens and young adults (roughly ages 12–21) with any level of alcohol use who can attend periodic visits or complete remote tracking are the ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People well beyond young adulthood or those seeking immediate treatment for severe alcohol use disorder are unlikely to get direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Results could help identify when and how adolescent drinking harms brain development and point to ways to prevent or reduce long-term problems.
How similar studies have performed: Other long-term cohorts (for example, ABCD and IMAGEN) have found links between adolescent substance use and brain changes, and NCANDA builds on that with extended follow-up and detailed imaging.
Where this research is happening
STANFORD, UNITED STATES
- STANFORD UNIVERSITY — STANFORD, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: POHL, KILIAN MARIA — STANFORD UNIVERSITY
- Study coordinator: POHL, KILIAN MARIA
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.