Research
Precision Neuroscience

Over the past 15 years, the project has enabled researchers from Brazil and many other countries to make groundbreaking discoveries about mental health and human development. Thanks to the long-term commitment of its participants, the project has:

• Followed approximately 2,500 children and adolescents in São Paulo and Porto Alegre, Brazil;
• Expanded scientific knowledge about human genetics, brain structure, and development;
• Created a rich research database containing hundreds of thousands of variables, supporting unprecedented investigations into the origins of mental health conditions;
• Contributed to approximately 160 articles published in international scientific and medical journals, advancing and sharing mental health knowledge worldwide.

Why does it matter?

Every questionnaire completed and every assessment carried out by participants helps researchers to:

• Develop strategies to prevent the onset of mental disorders;
• Advance scientific understanding of mental health and support the development of more effective treatments;
• Create innovative tools, products and programs in partnership with universities and public- and private-sector organizations, translating research findings into solutions that benefit society.

Ultimately, this research has the potential to improve the lives of people who need mental health care the most.

Making a difference in society

“Conexão Mentes do Futuro” is one of the world’s leading studies of brain development. Researchers and participants continue to work side by side toward a shared goal: improving mental health and enhancing people’s lives.

Below are some of the project’s most important discoveries, illustrating how genetics, brain development, and social and environmental factors influence the emergence of mental health conditions:

The “Conexão Mentes do Futuro” project is also known as Brazilian High Risk Cohort (BHRC).