Structural racism and reward-based brain responses linked to substance use risk in Puerto Rican adolescents

Structural Racism, Neurocognition in Reward Related Decision Making and Substance Use Risk

We will try to see if signs of structural racism are linked to brain structure, reward-related brain activity, and higher substance use risk in Puerto Rican adolescents living in New York and Puerto Rico.

Quick facts

• Study type: Observational
• Enrollment: 72 (estimated)
• Ages: 11 Years to 14 Years
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: Columbia University (other)
• Locations: 2 sites (New York, New York and 1 other locations)
• Trial ID: NCT06221839 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This observational pilot (R61) will enroll Puerto Rican adolescents aged about 11 to <15 who are children of the original Boricua Youth Study sample to test associations between indicators of structural racism and brain measures. Researchers will collect MRI/fMRI during reward-related decision-making tasks, plus questionnaires on belief in a just world and substance use risk indicators from adolescents and caregivers. Participants come from the mainland US (mostly New York) and Puerto Rico (mostly San Juan), and if pilot results show relationships, the project will expand into a larger R33 phase. Data collection focuses on brain structure, brain function during reward tasks, and survey-based measures of social context and substance use risk.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Puerto Rican adolescents aged 11 to <15 who are biological or non-biological children of original Boricua Youth Study members, with a caregiver able to provide consent and who can attend visits at the study sites.

Not a fit: Older teens, non-Puerto Rican youth, those with major neurological disorders or MRI contraindications, and youth without caregiver consent are unlikely to receive benefit from participation.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify brain-based pathways linking structural racism to substance use risk and inform targeted prevention strategies for Puerto Rican adolescents.

How similar studies have performed: Prior research links interpersonal discrimination and adolescent brain development to substance use risk, but applying structural racism indicators with fMRI in Puerto Rican youth is relatively novel and largely untested.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. The adolescent participant is a biological or non-biological child of a member of the original Boricua Youth Study (BYS) sample.
2. The adolescent is between the ages of 11 to 14.5 at the time of recruitment, and 11 to \<15 at the time of study participation.
3. If the parent/caregiver is not an original BYS member, they have provided a consent to contact form.
4. Parent/caregiver is between the ages of 18-64.5 at the time of recruitment and 18 to \<65 at the time of study participation

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Major neurological disorder (e.g. seizure disorder) or cognitive impairment (e.g., moderate to severe Autism Spectrum Disorder, Intellectual Disability)
2. Exclusion criteria for the MRI scan only: MRI contraindications (e.g., irremovable metal on the body, pacemaker, braces, etc.; pregnancy (while required by NYSPI).

Where this trial is running

New York, New York and 1 other locations

• Columbia University Irving Medical Center — New York, New York, United States (RECRUITING)
• University of Puerto Rico, Medical Sciences Campus — San Juan, Puerto Rico (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Tamara J. Sussman, PhD — Columbia University
• Study coordinator: Tamara J. Sussman, PhD

Conditions: Structural Racism, Substance Use Risk, Adolescent Behavior, Reward Related Decision Making, fMRI