Investigating how sex affects mental health and cognitive outcomes in adults with congenital heart disease
Official title: Sex Differences in Psychosocial and Neurocognitive Outcomes in Adults with Moderate to Complex Congenital Heart Disease
Funded at University of California Los Angeles · NIH-10991692 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how congenital heart disease affects the mental health and thinking skills of young adults, both men and women, to better understand their unique challenges and improve support for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | Fellowship grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project start | November 15, 2023 |
| Project end | August 14, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $32,813 |
| NIH project number | 5F31NR020976-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10991692 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 18 to 40 who have been diagnosed with moderate to complex congenital heart disease.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have congenital heart disease or are outside the age range of 18 to 40 may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research focuses on understanding the differences in psychosocial and neurocognitive outcomes between male and female adults who have moderate to complex congenital heart disease (CHD). It aims to recruit 180 participants aged 18 to 40 with CHD, along with 40 healthy controls, to assess various cognitive functions and mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. By examining these differences, the study seeks to identify specific needs and challenges faced by these individuals, which can inform better care and support strategies. The research will utilize a cross-sectional approach to gather data on cognitive performance and psychosocial well-being.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved mental health support and tailored interventions for adults with congenital heart disease based on their sex.
How similar studies have gone: While some studies have explored neurocognitive and psychosocial outcomes in adults with congenital heart disease, this research is novel in its focus on sex differences in these areas.
Where this research is happening
-
University of California Los Angeles
Los Angeles, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cabrera-Mino, Cristina — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Cabrera-Mino, Cristina
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Multimodal AI to improve genetic diagnosis of congenital heart disease
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Brain injury risk in preterm babies with heart disease and how surgery choices affect their brains
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AI-powered echocardiography to spot common heart defects in newborns
A new AI tool analyzes infant heart ultrasound images to help non-specialist health workers identify five common, treatable heart defects early.
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.