Adolescent Nutrition & Neurodevelopment in Ghana
Supported by the Gates Foundation, the Adolescent Nutrition & Neurodevelopment in Ghana (ANNiG) study examines whether school-based iron and folic acid supplementation during adolescence is associated with improved brain development in girls. Although weekly iron and folic acid supplementation is recommended globally to improve maternal and child health, little is known about its direct effects on the developing adolescent brain.
ANNiG leverages an existing school-based supplementation program in the Greater Accra region of Ghana, where some schools provide weekly, directly observed iron and folic acid supplementation while others do not. This creates a unique opportunity to examine whether improved nutritional status during adolescence is associated with measurable differences in brain structure, cognitive development, and mental health.
The study combines advanced neuroimaging with biological, cognitive, and contextual measures to better understand how nutrition supports adolescent neurodevelopment. Formative research with students, families, and schools has also identified important cultural perceptions surrounding supplementation, providing critical context for interpreting findings and informing future implementation strategies.
By integrating neuroscience, nutrition, and community-engaged research, ANNiG seeks to generate evidence that is meaningful not only for scientists, but also for families, educators, clinicians, and policymakers working to improve adolescent health worldwide.
Impact
Generating some of the first neuroimaging evidence on how iron and folic acid supplementation may influence adolescent brain development.
Informing global nutrition policy by evaluating outcomes beyond future pregnancy, including adolescent cognitive and neurological health.
Advancing culturally grounded implementation strategies that strengthen the effectiveness and acceptability of school-based nutrition programs.