The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development℠ Study (ABCD Study®) 

As one of 19 institutions selected nationwide to receive the prestigious The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development℠ Study (ABCD Study®) grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), LIBR welcomes the opportunity to take part in a landmark longitudinal study of adolescent brain development at our facilities in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

The Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development℠ Study (ABCD Study®) ​will be the largest of its kind to date, enrolling 10,000 children and following them from age 9-10 into early adulthood. Beginning at this age is important, as it is a period of development critical to an individual's life trajectory.
The project makes use of scientific and technological advances in brain imaging that allow investigators to measure brain maturation in the context of social, emotional and cognitive development. ​Our investigators will look at multiple health outcomes including weight, growth, sleep quality, injury, mental health and substance use, and other life experiences such as academic success, sports and other physical activity, and driving a car. 

Findings from ABCD Study® are expected to increase the ability to distinguish environmental, sociocultural and genetic factors relevant to brain and cognitive development, in order to inform prevention, treatment intervention and public health strategies.

ABCD Study® OFFICIAL WEBSITE   |    ABCD Study® CONSORTIUM SITES

OKLAHOMA'S IMPACT

"This is truly a landmark study and one of the largest health research grants that Oklahoma has received. It provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for parents to learn about how children's minds evolve and develop over the course of these pivotal 10 years." - Martin Paulus, LIBR Scientific Director and President (see Tulsa World news article)

As part of the ABCD Study®, Oklahomans will be joining a nationwide effort to see, for the first time, how an individual brain changes during the time of adolescence, when many mental health conditions first appear. We hope to find the risk and protective factors that will help identify and predict mental health and substance use issues at an early stage.

For more information on mental health and substance use assistance in Oklahoma, please visit our Community Resources section.​
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GET INVOLVED

ENROLLMENT BEGAN IN 2016

LIBR enrolled 600+ children between the ages of 9-10 into the study over a two-year period who will be followed over the next 10 years into early adulthood.

We have developed partnerships with Tulsa area schools and organizations to facilitate recruitment efforts. 

By participating in the ABCD Study®, both parents and their children can learn about brain development, receive payment for their involvement, and have an opportunity to join a major longitudinal study to contribute to science.

ABCD Study® Update 2019- Dr. Martin Paulus

MRI SCANNING FOR KIDS