Actively Recruiting
Pediatric Neuroimaging
Led by National Institute on Aging (NIA) · Updated on 2026-04-08
80
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
58 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
Background: Puberty is a normal part of life. Many big changes occur in all parts of the body as a child matures into an adult. Researchers in this study want to find out more about how the brain changes during puberty. Objective: To study changes that occur in the brain before, during, and after puberty. Eligibility: Healthy children aged 9 to 14 years. Design: Participants will have 2 clinic visits. Each visit will last up to 4 hours. In the first visit, participants will be screened: They will have a physical exam with blood tests. They will complete a mental health questionnaire on a computer. They will undergo a mock magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan. Participants will be made comfortable as they lie on the table and slide into the big tube. They will learn what it feels and sounds like to lie still inside a real MRI. At the second visit, participants will have more tests: They will have a physical exam with blood tests. This time the doctor will check for their stage of puberty. The doctor will look at and touch their genitals and breasts. They will have a real MRI exam. An x-ray will be taken of their hand and wrist. This will show how their bones are maturing. They will have a DEXA scan. They will lie on a table while a machine uses x-rays to measure the makeup of their bodies, including bone, muscle, and fat. They will have a 3D body scan. They will wear tight clothes and a shower cap. They will stand on a platform while sensors take pictures of their body.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Pediatric Neuroimaging
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Willingness to comply with all study procedures and availability for the study duration
- Male or female aged 9 to 14 years
- In good general health
- Parent or guardian able to understand and sign informed consent
- Participant able to assent and willing to sign assent document
You will not qualify if you...
- Known brain abnormalities or medical conditions affecting brain structure (e.g., tumor, epilepsy, stroke, serious head injury)
- History of neurodevelopmental delays, learning disabilities, intellectual disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, or ADHD
- History of psychiatric disorders
- Prematurity before 32 weeks gestational age
- Endocrine disorders including thyroid, growth, or puberty abnormalities
- Major or chronic medical conditions such as neurological, genetic, malnutrition, anemia, cardiovascular, lung, liver, kidney, autoimmune diseases, or chronic infections
- Pregnancy
- Ineligibility for MRI according to safety standards
- Presence of hardware (e.g., braces) interfering with MRI quality
- Any condition that may affect ability to complete the study or increase risk as judged by the investigator
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
National Institute of Aging, Clinical Research Unit
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21224
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
T
Tina Gupta, M.D.
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Masking
N/A
Allocation
N/A
Model
N/A
Primary Purpose
N/A
Number of Arms
1
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