How Does Puberty Affect Brain Development?

Join a Research Study: Enrolling locally from the Washington, D.C. metro region

To find out if you qualify, email the study team (PubertyStudy@nih.gov) or call 1-301-496-9576 [TTY: 711].

Your healthy child age 8, 12, or 13 is invited to participate in an NIH outpatient research study that examines how puberty affects brain development. Participation includes 1-3 day outpatient visits to the NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda, Maryland every 8-10 months until age 17, for a physical examination, body measurements, questionnaires, MRI scans, blood draws, urine collection and x-rays. Participants must NOT have any chronic medical or psychiatric illnesses, nor be on any long-term medication. Parents must agree to their child’s participation. Evaluations and research procedures are free of cost. Compensation is provided. Call for information and eligibility criteria. 

To find out if you qualify, email the study team (PubertyStudy@nih.gov) or call 1-301-496-9576 [TTY: 711].

Study Identifiers

• NIMH Protocol Number: 11-M-0251
• ClinicalTrials.gov Study Number: 01434368 

Investigator(s): Peter Schmidt, M.D.