Pediatric Neuroimaging

Recruiting now

Conditions studied: Neurogimaging

In brief

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.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT06912724
Run by: National Institute on Aging (NIA)
People needed: 80
Starts: 2025-04-21
Expected to finish: 2027-05-01
Last updated by the study team: 2026-05-15

Who can join

Age: 9 and older, up to 14. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may not qualify if…

An individual who meets any of the following criteria will be excluded from participation in this study:
Any known brain abnormalities (e.g. tumor, periventricular leukomalacia, microcephaly) or history of medical conditions known to affect cerebral micro or macro-structural integrity (e.g., epilepsy, history of stroke, head injury with a loss of consciousness of one hour or more).
History neurodevelopmental delay or disorder, learning disability, intellectual disability (formerly referred to as mental retardation), autism spectrum disorders, and attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD)), as evaluated history, physical and by the SDQ, and if indicated, the KSADS
History of psychiatric disorder as evaluated by history and the SDQ, and if indicated, the KSADS.
History of prematurity (< 32 weeks gestational age).
History of endocrine abnormalities, including diagnosed disorders of thyroid, growth, and precocious or delayed puberty
History of major medical conditions or chronic medical conditions. Examples include neurological disorders, medical or genetic conditions with associated neurological manifestations, malnutrition, conditions raising risk of micronutrient or macronutrient deficiencies (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease), untreated chronic anemia, cardiovascular disease, significant lung disease (e.g. bronchiectasis), significant liver disease, significant kidney disease, significant autoimmune condition, and chronic infections (e.g. HIV, hepatitis B).
Pregnancy.
Not eligible to have an MRI as per the MRI eligibility form and the safety standards of the NIA 3T MRI center.
Presence of hardware (e.g. orthodontic braces) that may interfere with MRI data quality.
Any other condition which in the investigator s opinion may adversely affect the subject s ability to complete the study or its measures or which may pose significant risk to the subject.

Where it is running

National Institute of Aging, Clinical Research Unit — Baltimore, Maryland, United States (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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