Page 10 - ArtforHealth

Teen Brains,
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ChildArt | Art for Health Today’s Science,

Brighter Future

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) is a and shape a person’s
government research agency whose goals are future.
to support studies to understand the body and The ABCD Study

behavior and to use that knowledge to improve is big—almost 12,000
health. One of the studies that the NIH sup- kids. It started when
ports is called the Adolescent Brain Cognitive they were 9 to 10 years old, and it will run for
SM
Development (ABCD) Study. 10 years until they are young adults. Partici-
The ABCD Study will increase our pants in this $400 million study will meet with
understanding of how things like the a local research team every year in-person to
environment, social interactions, answer some questions about their experiences

genetics and biology, and other factors and to play games and puzzles that can tell the
affect brain and childhood develop- researchers about things like memory, atten-
tion, reasoning, and planning. Participants also
ment. It is information that pediatricians,
provide specimens (such as saliva) for genetic
teachers, counselors, and parents will be able
and other testing, and every participant has a
to use to help you grow up as strong as pos-
safe non-invasive brain scan (MRI) session
sible and
to obtain a clear picture of their brain every
become a
other year.
healthy adult.
During the interviews, researchers are ask-
It will also
ing kids like you and caregivers about their
help policy-
family lives, friends, school, and extracurricular
makers when
activities, how much they use different types
making deci-
of screens, their sleep and exercise patterns,
sions about
among other experiences. They are also look-
laws that im-
ing at the effects of participating in artistic
pact adoles-
activities like dance classes, learning how to
A study participant preparing for MRI. cent health
ABCD Study®, Teen Brains. Today’s Science. Brighter Future.®, and the ABCD Study Logo are registered marks of the U.S. Depart-
ment of Health & Human Services (HHS). Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development SM Study, is a service mark of HHS.