A First-ever Research Collaboration to Characterize MRI Measured Neural Flexibility Development in Chinese Toddlers (MIND)

The overall objective is to characterize the developmental characteristics of MRI measured neural flexibility, as an index of cognitive flexibility, in Chinese toddlers (32 to 42 months old).

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Brain; Growth & Development
• Intervention / Treatment: Radiation: MRI

Detailed Description

The primary objective of this clinical study is to characterize in Chinese toddlers ages 32 - 42 months old the developmental characteristics of MRI measured neural flexibility, as an index of cognitive flexibility, and to assess a range of executive functions (inhibit, shift, emotional control, working memory, plan/organize) using the Global Executive Composite summary score obtained from the BRIEF-P standardized rating scale.

• Study Type: Observational
• Enrollment (Estimated): 60

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Joyce Li; Phone Number: +86 15810125435; Email: joyce.li@rd.nestle.com

Study Locations

• China
  • Shanghai Municipality
    • Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality, China
      • Recruiting
      • Shanghai Children's Medical Center
      • Contact: Fan Jiang

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 1 month to 1 year (Child)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

• Sampling Method: Probability Sample

Study Population

Healthy normal developing Chinese toddlers; minimum number of subjects with successful MRI scans at enrolment and age 42 months: N=60 (≈ 30 fed on S-26 GOLD/ ULTIMA growing-up milk (GUM) and ≈30 fed on cows' milk) with key inclusion as daily consumption of the S-26 GUM or cow's milk for the last 60 days (2 mo).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Written informed consent has been obtained from the parent/legally acceptable representative.
2. Full-term birth (≥ 37 weeks and ≥ 2.5kg)
3. Typically developing Children aged between 32-34 months (2 years 8 months to 2 years10 month of age) at enrolment
4. Neurotypical development as assessed by interview
5. No major risk factors for learning, neurologic, or psychiatric disorder as assessed by interview [defined as a diagnosed learning neurologic or psychiatric disorder in a first degree relative (e.g. parents, siblings)].
6. Dietary requirement detailed below:

S-26 GOLD or ULTIMA GUM--fed group:

I. Daily consumption of S-26 GOLD or ULTIMA GUM for the last 60 days (2 months) II. Desire of the parent to continue feeding GUM during the course of the study

Cow's milk-fed group:

I. Daily consumption of cow's milk or for the last 60 days (2 months) II. Desire of the parent to continue feeding cow's milk during the course of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Delayed birth ( > 41 weeks gestation) as reported in medical record
2. Birth Weight < 2500 g or small for gestational age (birth weight below the 10th percentile) or large for gestational age (birth weight above the 90th percentile) as reported in medical record
3. History of neurological (e.g., head injury, epilepsy), psychiatric or developmental disorder in the toddler as assessed by interview
4. History of diagnosed neurological (e.g., head injury, epilepsy), psychiatric or developmental disorder in parents or siblings, as assessed by interview
5. In utero exposure to alcohol abuse or illicit substances as defined as diagnosis of current substance use disorder in the biological mother and guidelines set by the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists and the Royal College of Physicians
6. Multiple birth as reported in medical record
7. Complicated pregnancy (e.g., preeclampsia, gestational diabetes) as assessed by medical interview/ medical record
8. Abnormal screening laboratory values and studies considered to be clinically significant in the opinion of the Investigator (e.g., metabolic disease screening, neonatal bilirubin)

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Observational Models: Cohort
• Time Perspectives: Prospective

Number of groups / cohorts

2

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort	Intervention / Treatment
S-26 GOLD/ULTIMA GUM-fed group: Parent(s) to continue feeding their child S-26 GOLD or ULTIMA GUM during the course of the study. We will collect information from parents on the S-26 GOLD/ ULTIMA GUM for a maximum of 2 months prior to the study start and during the course of the study.	Radiation: MRI; MRI is a safe, non-invasive, cutting edge imaging technology widely used to study the human brain both internationally (NIH connectome project) and in China (China Brain Project). The Baby Connectome Project (BCP) led by NIH scientists has begun data collection on the structural and functional brain development among American infants (Howell, Styner et al. 2019).
Cow's milk-fed group: Parent(s) to continue feeding their child cow's milk during the course of the study. We will collect information from parents on the cow's milk consumed for a maximum of 2 months prior to the study start and during the course of the study.	Radiation: MRI; MRI is a safe, non-invasive, cutting edge imaging technology widely used to study the human brain both internationally (NIH connectome project) and in China (China Brain Project). The Baby Connectome Project (BCP) led by NIH scientists has begun data collection on the structural and functional brain development among American infants (Howell, Styner et al. 2019).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Neural flexibility	MRI-derived neural flexibility associated with cognitive flexibility (including anterior cingulate cortex, dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, ventrolateral prefrontal cortex, anterior insula, interior frontal junction, superior parietal lobule, precuneus, intraparietal sulcus, and temporoparietal junction)	at baseline and 42 months after baseline
Global Executive Composite (GEC) score	executive functions (inhibit, shift, emotional control, working memory, plan/organize) using the Global Executive Composite summary score obtained from the BRIEF-P standardized rating scale	at baseline and 42 months of age

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Brain structure (brain regions volume)	Brain structure (brain regions volume) measured using MRI, including the hippocampal	at baseline and 42 months of age
Brain structure (cortical surface area)	Brain structure (cortical surface area) measured using MRI	at baseline and 42 months of age
Brain structure (cortical thickness)	Brain structure (cortical thickness) measured using MRI	at baseline and 42 months of age
Brain structure (myelination)	Brain structure (myelination) measured using MRI	at baseline and 42 months of age
Brain function (network topologies)	Brain functional network topologies of the nine commonly assessed brain functional networks, including the primary visual, secondary visual, visual association, motosensory, default mode, frontoparietal, medial frontal, subcortical and cerebellum networks using MRI	at baseline and 42 months of age
Brain function (connection strengths)	Brain functional connection strengths of the nine commonly assessed brain functional networks, including the primary visual, secondary visual, visual association, motosensory, default mode, frontoparietal, medial frontal, subcortical and cerebellum networks using MRI	at baseline and 42 months of age
Cognitive flexibility	Using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version (BRIEF-P) parent-completed questionnaire	at baseline and 42 months of age
Children development	Verbal Comprehension, Visual Spatial, Working Memory, and IQ using Wechsler Preschool and Primary Scale of Intelligence (WPPSI-IV)	at baseline and 42 months of age
School readiness	Using Early Human Capability Index (eHCI)	at 42 months of age
Children behavior (for toddlers)	Using the Early Childhood Behavioral Questionnaire (ECBQ)	at baseline and 42 months of age
Curiosity	Using the Curiosity Questionnaire	at baseline and 42 months of age
Sleep quality	Sleep quality, duration and efficiency (total sleep time / duration of sleep episode *100) computed using the Brief Infant Sleep Questionnaire (BISQ). In addition, an actigraphy in combination with a sleep diary will be used during home period and their relationship will indicate the sleep quality	at baseline and 42 months of age
Home environment	Using validated Child Feeding Practice Questionnaire. In addition, to complete the feeding and adverse events calendar monthly during home period	at baseline and 8 months after baseline
Feeding practice	Using the Early Feeding Practice Questionnaire. In addition, the feeding and adverse events calendar monthly during home period	at baseline and 42 months of age
Fecal microbiota composition	Measured via the shotgun metagenomics sequencing for species composition and functional pathways through stool samples collected	at baseline and 42 months of age
Cognitive flexibility	Using the Dimensional Change Card Sort (DCCS) task	at baseline and 42 months of age

Other Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Gastrointestinal tolerance (for toddlers)	using the Toddler Gut Comfort Questionnaire (TGCQ)	at baseline and 42 months of age
Anthropometry (weight in grams)	Weight in grams and corresponding weight-for-age Z-score according to the WHO growth standards	at baseline and 42 months of age
Anthropometry (body length in centimeters)	Length in centimeters and corresponding length-for-age Z-score according to the WHO growth standards	at baseline and 42 months of age
Anthropometry (weight-for-length)	Corresponding weight-for-length Z-score according to the WHO growth standards	at baseline and 42 months of age
Anthropometry (head circumference in centimeters)	Head circumference in centimeters and corresponding head-circumference-for-age Z-score according to the WHO growth standards	at baseline and 42 months of age
Anthropometry (BMI)	Weight and height will be combined to report the BMI (kg/m2) and corresponding BMI-for-age Z-score according to the WHO growth standards	at baseline and 42 months of age
Adverse Events (e.g., type, incidence, severity, seriousness)	standard AE reporting procedure	from enrollment until 42.5 months of age

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Société des Produits Nestlé (SPN)
• Collaborators: Veeva Systems; SAS Institute
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Fan Jiang, Shanghai Children's Medical Center

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): April 6, 2024
• Primary Completion (Estimated): August 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): February 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: October 29, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 3, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): June 7, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Estimated): December 3, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: November 26, 2025
• Last Verified: November 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 20.02.INF

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No