VIBE Study
Welcome to VIBE
(Vascular Interface with Brain and Neurocognition via the Eyes: Retinal Photography in Youth with Psychiatric Disorders)
We want to learn more about the connections between vascular (i.e., blood vessel) health and brain health in youth with mental health diagnoses. We will measure traditional vascular risk factors including blood pressure, body mass index, and glucose and cholesterol levels. We will also use non-invasive eye photography to visualize tiny blood vessels in the eye. These eye blood vessels are very similar to blood vessels in the brain. We aim to build on previous research showing that differences in eye blood vessels are linked with mental health symptoms. Previous studies have found that vascular measures are highly relevant to brain health in adults. However, vascular-brain connections are far less explored in relation to mental health, especially in youth.
The VIBE study will enroll 500 youth aged 13-24 from who are participating in the TAY Cohort Study.
Our primary objectives are to:
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Learn more about how vascular health is related to brain imaging and cognition in youth seeking mental health care.
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Examine clinical and biological characteristics of subgroups of youth with strong connections between vascular health and brain health.
Our research will also examine:
Differences related to sex assigned at birth as well as gender
Differences based on the social determinants of health, such as adversity
Differences based on specific psychiatric diagnoses and family psychiatric and medical history.
This research will contribute to a better understanding of mental health symptoms and mental health challenges in youth. It may offer insights into new assessment, prevention, and treatment strategies that emphasize vascular health for youth with mental health diagnoses.