Cash support and children's brain development in Brazil
Official title: Mental Health and Bolsa Familia: A Mechanistically Focused Clinical Trial of a Cash Transfer Intervention on Child Brain, Behavior, and Mental Health
Run by New York State Psychiatric Institute · NCT05477901 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether giving mothers larger monthly cash payments (about $40 vs $2) for two years helps improve brain development, executive function, and mental health in 7–10-year-old children from low-income families in São Paulo.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 23 Years to 45 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 450 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | New York State Psychiatric Institute Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (New York, New York and 1 other locations) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 28, 2025 |
| Main results expected | June 30, 2028 |
| Study ends | January 31, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | April 23, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05477901 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are mothers aged 23–45 who currently receive Auxilio Brasil, live with at least two children aged 7–10 (up to four), and can provide informed consent with children able to give assent.
✕Probably not a fit
Children with major psychiatric disorders (e.g., autism, schizophrenia, bipolar), severe disabilities, those not living with the mother, or with MRI contraindications are unlikely to benefit or may be ineligible.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This randomized clinical trial will enroll 300 families already receiving the Auxilio Brasil cash transfer and randomize them 1:1 to receive either a higher supplemental payment (~$40/month) or a lower supplemental payment (~$2/month) for two years. The trial will follow one index child per family (age 7–10) and up to 150 siblings with baseline assessments and follow-ups at ~8, 16, and 24 months, plus a ~6-month post-intervention visit. Outcomes include behavioral and cognitive measures tied to executive function and mental health, and brain imaging (MRI) for index children to examine changes in prefrontal and hippocampal structure and function. By building on an existing national program, the RCT design aims to draw causal links between cash transfers and neurodevelopmental mechanisms in a low-resource setting.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, larger monthly cash transfers could reduce poverty-related harm to children's brain development and improve cognitive skills and mental health.
How similar studies have gone: Previous cash transfer programs have shown benefits for health and educational outcomes, but randomized trials directly linking larger cash transfers to children's brain structure and neurodevelopment—especially with MRI in low- and middle-income countries—are limited.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Mother: Inclusion Criteria: 1. Age 23-45 years old 2. Receiving AB cash transfers 3. Has at least two or more children ages 7- 10 years old at time of recruitment (up to 4 children per family) 4. Able to consent Exclusion Criteria: 1\. Mother and child do not reside in same household Child: Inclusion Criterion 1. Age 7-10 years old 2. Intellectual Disability Exclusion Criterion 1. Does not reside in same household as the mother 2. Major Axis I disorder (e.g., Autism, Schizophrenia, Bipolar) 3. Severe Disability 4. MRI contradictions (index child only)
Where it's running
-
Unifesp
São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil Recruiting -
New York State Psychiatric Institute
New York, New York, United States Not yet recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Cristiane Duarte, PhD — New York State Psychiatric Institute
- Study coordinator: Cristiane Duarte, PhD
- Email: cristiane.duarte@nyspi.columbia.edu
- Phone: 646-774-5801
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.