Peer-reviewed article

The ABCD Study at 10: The NIH perspective on progress, impact, and the road ahead.

Nora D Volkow, George F Koob, William M Klein, Jennifer A Hobin, Eric M Wargo et al. · 28 Jul 2026

Abstract

The Adolescent Brain Cognitive DevelopmentSM (ABCD) Study is a landmark study of nearly 12,000 U.S. youth from ages 9-10 through their second decade of life. It aims to unravel the complex interplay of biological, environmental, and social factors on adolescent development. The study collects neuroimaging; cognitive assessments; genetic and other biological information; surveys of substance use, mental health, and other health-related factors; and detailed environmental measures. A cornerstone of the ABCD Study® is its open science model, which facilitates broad data sharing and has spurred over 1600 publications, significantly democratizing scientific inquiry. Findings from the first 10 years of the study have provided critical insights. Sociodemographic and contextual factors have emerged as stronger predictors of early substance use initiation than brain, neurocognitive, or genetic measures alone. Research has also highlighted the significant impact of lifestyle factors and multilayered environmental exposures on youth mental health. The study's diverse cohort has enabled robust examination of health disparities, revealing that while socioeconomic deprivation impacts neurodevelopment, these effects can be moderated by positive supports. Furthermore, the ABCD Study is reshaping developmental neuroscience by establishing new standards for large-scale research, advancing analytical techniques, and underscoring the need for large, diverse samples to ensure reproducibility while also exploring individual variability. As the cohort enters early adulthood, the study is poised to provide deeper understanding of the trajectories of substance use disorders, mental illness, and chronic conditions; identify early risk and protective factors; and reveal developmental windows for early prevention interventions to improve long-term health and well-being.