One of the most effective ways scientists look forward into developing medical, psychological, and educational tools is by looking back at longitudinal data. What is longitudinal data? In basic terms, research studies that evaluate information from active participants over many years are considered longitudinal. One such study with the hope of valuable feedback on adolescent brain development is the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) Study.
The ABCD Study was launched in 2015 by the National Institute of Health (NIH) and is currently the largest research of adolescent brain health and development in the United States.
This comprehensive research includes over 11,500 kids, and follows them from age 9-10 for a full decade as they step into adulthood. Scientists will be able to evaluate social factors, educational influences, substance abuse, and the under-girding neuropsychological development throughout adolescence. In light of the COVID epidemic, it will be fascinating to see what dynamic developmental information comes to light!
By Terissa Michele Miller, MS Psy
Check out the original research:
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dcn.2018.05.003
https://abcdstudy.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/January2020-1.pdf
This article was originally published in Modern Brain Journal.
About the author:
Teri Miller is a mom of nine and child development researcher with a Masters of Science in Psychology. She is a Research Associate at Gibson Institute of Cognitive Research, co-host of the podcast Brainy Moms, and the Managing Editor at Modern Brain Journal.