PERSONAL NATURAL ENVIRONMENT-GENE-GUT-BRAIN INTERACTIONS BASED ECOSYSTEM FOR PREVENTION OF MENTAL ILLNESS IN CHILDREN, ADOLESCENTS AND YOUNG ADULTS (PUREMIND) is a 4-year programme of work involving an international consortium.
The overall aim is to deliver the first Integrated Mental Healthcare Ecosystem (IMHE) to predict/early identify Mental Health Disorders (MHD). The IMHE will create more optimal personalised interventions to prevent MHD and improve wellbeing in children, adolescents, and young adults.
The project is funded by the Horizon Europe (HORIZON) research and innovation programme under grant agreement no. 101156916 (Horizon Innovation Action | HORIZON-HLTH-2024-STAYHLTH-01-02-two-stage).
Click below to find out more about the PUREMIND project
The University of Exeter team are taking part in two clinical studies which will contribute to the programme.
We will recruit 11 to 25 years olds with autism (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or developmental coordination disorder (DCD). Data will be collected during the study over a period of 9 months. A range of data will be collected e.g. diet, physical activity, mood and symptoms of anxiety and depression. Additionally, we will collect some biological samples. The study will involve in-person study visits every 3 months and further data collection between visits using an at-home mobile app.
Information from this study will help us to understand the conditions better and look for possible ‘biomarker handprints’. This will allow the development of personalised, evidence-based interventions to manage the symptoms of anxiety and depression in the future.
We will recruit 11 to 25 years olds with autism (ASD), attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or developmental coordination disorder (DCD). One of four established interventions will be provided for 12-weeks. The interventions include: physical activity, gut health, lifestyle & behaviour, nerve stimulation. We will compare data on symptoms of anxiety and depression before and after the intervention to see if there are any changes.