Long-term brain and behavior tracking in autism from infancy through adolescence
A Longitudinal Brain and Behavior Study of Autism From Infancy Through Adolescence
This project follows children at high and low familial risk for autism from infancy into their teens to track how their brains and behavior change over time.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11395093 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If my child joins, researchers will follow a group of about 400 children (roughly 300 at higher familial risk for ASD and 100 at lower risk) with regular brain scans and behavioral visits from infancy through 13–16 years. They will collect MRI imaging and standardized developmental and psychiatric assessments at many ages to see how brain features and behaviors change as children grow. Previous phases of this network found brain signs of autism as early as 6 months and links between early brain patterns and diagnoses at 24 months, so this extension aims to learn what happens during adolescence. Study visits will focus on understanding mental health risks, sex differences (including outcomes for females), and the transition into adulthood.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are children enrolled from infancy who are either at higher familial risk for ASD (siblings of autistic children) or at lower familial risk, and who can attend study visits through their teens.
Not a fit: People without a history of familial autism who cannot travel for repeated visits or those seeking immediate treatment changes may not directly benefit from this observational study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could help doctors identify earlier markers and tailor supports to reduce psychiatric problems and improve outcomes during adolescence for autistic people.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier phases of this ACE Network and related studies have already found early brain markers (by 6 months) that predicted later ASD diagnosis, showing this longitudinal approach has produced meaningful discoveries.
Where this research is happening
Chapel Hill, United States
- Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill — Chapel Hill, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Piven, Joseph — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Piven, Joseph
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.