We’re excited to introduce a new feature highlighting the incredible research happening in our department! Each month, we’ll spotlight a recent publication from our faculty, providing an opportunity for everyone to learn more about the important work being done across our department.
For our first Research Spotlight, we’re featuring a publication from Amanda Elton, PhD.
The effects of adverse life events on brain development in the ABCD study®: a propensity-weighted analysis
Amanda Elton, PhD
Ben Lewis, PhD
Sara Jo Nixon, PhD
Published in: Molecular Psychiatry
Read More: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39578521/
What’s This Study About?
We sought to characterize the impacts of early life adversity on adolescent brain development over two years, using robust methods and a well-powered longitudinal design.
Key Findings:
- Early life adversity promoted more rapid maturational changes in functional connections between cortical networks and subcortical brain regions.
- These changes were consistent with positive adaptations that attenuated the development of internalizing symptoms in response to adversity but were simultaneously associated with poorer academic performance.
Why It Matters:
The results indicated a more complex relationship between risk and resilience processes in the brain than previously recognized. Additional research will be needed to identify the brain mechanisms by which adversity in early adolescence affects mental health in later adolescence and adulthood.