Investigating the Impacts of Early Life Experience on the Brain & Behaviour
This research aims to understand how things that happen early in life can shape your brain, behaviour, and even your body's defence system (immune system) years later. We're particularly looking into why certain early experiences, like adoption, stress, or parents separating, can sometimes lead to difficulties with mental health in adulthood, such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, or autism. The main goal is to find ways to spot young people who might be at risk of developing these problems. This would allow them to get the right support at the right time. We'll use online tasks, brain scans, and blood tests to gather this important information.
At a glance
What is this study about?
This study aims to understand how your early life experiences can affect your brain and behaviour as you grow up. Think about how a plant grows differently depending on its early environment – this study is exploring a similar idea for people. We want to learn more about why certain early life situations, such as being adopted, experiencing stress, or if your parents separated, might lead to mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, ADHD, or autism later in life. We're also looking at how these experiences might affect your body's immune system.
The main reason for doing this research is to improve our understanding of these connections. The long-term hope is to develop better tools that could help identify young people who might be more likely to face these challenges in the future. If we can spot them early, they can get the help and support they need much sooner.
To do this, we'll ask you to take part in a few different activities, including some online games, completing questionnaires, having a brain scan, and providing a blood sample. All of these different parts help us collect a full picture of how early experiences might be connected to your mental health, thinking skills, brain development, and immune system.
Key takeaways
- Aims to understand how childhood experiences affect adult brain and mental health.
- Specifically looking at conditions like ADHD, autism, depression, and anxiety.
- Involves online tasks, questionnaires, a brain scan, and a blood test.
- Your participation helps to identify young people who might need future support.
- You need to be 18-24, live in Greater Manchester, and meet specific life experience criteria.
- You can withdraw from the study at any time.
Who may be eligible?
This study is looking for young adults aged 18 to 24 who live in Greater Manchester. You need to have lived with one or both of your birth parents throughout your childhood. You also can't be currently enrolled in university or have a university degree.
To be considered, you should also meet at least one of these conditions: you're not currently working, studying, or in training, or you are unemployed; you receive government benefits like Universal Credit or housing benefit; or you are currently experiencing mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, ADHD, or autism.
However, you cannot take part if you were cared for by the local authority (like foster care or a children's home) or adopted as a child. You also can't participate if you experienced childhood trauma, such as abuse or being exposed to domestic violence, or if social services were involved with your family due to child protection concerns. If you've been diagnosed with PTSD or certain personality disorders (like borderline personality disorder), you also won't be able to join this study.
Could this study suit you?
Answer these quick questions to see if you may be eligible. This is a guide only — the research team makes the final call.
- Are you between 18 and 24 years old?
- Do you currently live in Greater Manchester?
- Did you live with one or both of your birth parents throughout your childhood?
- Are you NOT currently enrolled in university and do you NOT have a university degree?
- Do you face challenges like not being in education, employment, or training, or do you receive government benefits, or are you currently struggling with your mental health (e.g., depression, anxiety, ADHD, autism)?
- Have you NOT been in foster care, adoptive care, or had social services involved for child protection concerns?
What does participation involve?
If you decide to take part, your journey will look something like this:
**Step 1: Initial Chat (about 20 minutes)** First, you'll have a quick phone or video call. During this chat, we'll ask you some questions to make sure you meet the study's requirements and ask about your medical history, including any mental health conditions or medications you take.
**Step 2: Online Activities (about 3 hours, done at home)** If you're suitable, you'll complete some parts of the study online at home. This involves: * **Questionnaires:** Filling out three online forms (about 30 minutes each) about your background, health, mental health, and personality. * **Online Games:** Playing some simple online games (around 5-10 minutes each, total 1.5 hours) that test things like your memory, attention, and how you recognise faces.
**Step 3: Face-to-Face Visit (about 2 hours, at the University of Manchester)** You'll then be invited for a visit to the University of Manchester. During this visit: * **Brain Scan (about 1.5 hours):** You'll have an MRI brain scan. This involves lying still inside a large machine that uses magnets to take pictures of your brain. While in the scanner, you'll also do some short thinking tasks. * **Blood Test (about 30 minutes):** We'll ask to take a small blood sample. This helps us understand how early experiences might affect your immune system.
After completing the face-to-face parts, your involvement in the study will be complete.
Potential risks and benefits
Locations (1)
- Faculty of Biology Medicine & Health, University of ManchesterVerified postcodeManchester, United Kingdom· Recruiting
Common questions
What is an MRI brain scan?
An MRI scan uses strong magnets and radio waves to take detailed pictures of your brain without using X-rays. It's safe, but you need to lie still inside a scanner that can be a bit noisy.
Will I get results from my brain scan or blood test?
You won't receive individual results from your scan or blood test. The information is combined with other participants' data to help the researchers understand general patterns rather than individual health.
What if I feel uncomfortable during the study?
You can take breaks at any point during your visit, and you are free to stop participating in the study at any time without needing to give a reason.
Who will see my personal information?
All your information will be kept strictly private and confidential. Only the research team will have access to it, and your details will be anonymised wherever possible to protect your identity.
Will I be paid for taking part?
The information provided does not specify whether participants receive payment for taking part. You should ask the research team about this beforehand.
How to find out more
Always speak to your GP or specialist before deciding to take part in a study.
Interested in taking part?
Discussion
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