Quantifying brain development in the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study: The magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy protocol
Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Date
9-21-2024
Journal
Developmental cognitive neuroscience
Volume
70
DOI
10.1016/j.dcn.2024.101452
Keywords
Development; HBCD; Infant; MRI; MRS; Protocol
Abstract
The HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study, a multi-site prospective longitudinal cohort study, will examine human brain, cognitive, behavioral, social, and emotional development beginning prenatally and planned through early childhood. The acquisition of multimodal magnetic resonance-based brain development data is central to the study's core protocol. However, application of Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) methods in this population is complicated by technical challenges and difficulties of imaging in early life. Overcoming these challenges requires an innovative and harmonized approach, combining age-appropriate acquisition protocols together with specialized pediatric neuroimaging strategies. The HBCD MRI Working Group aimed to establish a core acquisition protocol for all 27 HBCD Study recruitment sites to measure brain structure, function, microstructure, and metabolites. Acquisition parameters of individual modalities have been matched across MRI scanner platforms for harmonized acquisitions and state-of-the-art technologies are employed to enable faster and motion-robust imaging. Here, we provide an overview of the HBCD MRI protocol, including decisions of individual modalities and preliminary data. The result will be an unparalleled resource for examining early neurodevelopment which enables the larger scientific community to assess normative trajectories from birth through childhood and to examine the genetic, biological, and environmental factors that help shape the developing brain.
APA Citation
Dean, Douglas C.; Tisdall, M Dylan; Wisnowski, Jessica L.; Feczko, Eric; Gagoski, Borjan; Alexander, Andrew L.; Edden, Richard A.; Gao, Wei; Hendrickson, Timothy J.; Howell, Brittany R.; Huang, Hao; Humphreys, Kathryn L.; Riggins, Tracy; Sylvester, Chad M.; Weldon, Kimberly B.; Yacoub, Essa; Ahtam, Banu; Beck, Natacha; Banerjee, Suchandrima; Boroday, Sergiy; Caprihan, Arvind; Caron, Bryan; Carpenter, Samuel; Chang, Yulin; Chung, Ai Wern; Cieslak, Matthew; Clarke, William T.; Dale, Anders; Das, Samir; Davies-Jenkins, Christopher W.; Dufford, Alexander J.; and Evans, Alan C., "Quantifying brain development in the HEALthy Brain and Child Development (HBCD) Study: The magnetic resonance imaging and spectroscopy protocol" (2024). GW Authored Works. Paper 5608.
https://hsrc.himmelfarb.gwu.edu/gwhpubs/5608
Department
Radiology