Choline supplements to support brain and memory in children exposed to alcohol before birth
Official title: Choline Supplementation as a Neurodevelopmental Intervention in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders
Funded at University of Minnesota · NIH-11137565 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers give choline supplements to young children exposed to alcohol before birth to try to improve thinking, memory, and attention.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Minnesota NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Minneapolis, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2015 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $596,257 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AA024123-10 |
| Project ID | NIH-11137565 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children diagnosed with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders or known prenatal alcohol exposure, especially toddlers and preschool-age children, would be the best fit.
✕Less likely to help
People without prenatal alcohol exposure, older children, or those with unrelated severe medical conditions are less likely to benefit from this specific intervention.
What this research studies
If my child joins, they would receive daily choline supplements or a placebo without us or the staff knowing which one (double-blind, randomized). The team will measure memory, attention, behavior, and other cognitive skills and may include long-term follow-up visits to see if gains last. The researchers have run prior trials showing safety and age-related benefits and will focus on toddlers and preschool-age children. Participation will likely involve clinic visits and developmental testing over months to years.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, choline could improve memory, attention, and long-term cognitive skills for children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
How similar studies have gone: Earlier randomized, double-blind trials by this group found choline to be safe and showed improvements in memory, processing, working memory, and ADHD-related behavior, particularly in younger children.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Wozniak, Jeffrey Robert — University of Minnesota
- Study coordinator: Wozniak, Jeffrey Robert
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Cellular mechanisms shaping fetal alcohol spectrum disorders
This NIH grant studies how alcohol exposure before birth damages development at the cellular level, with potential to improve understanding and care for individuals affected by FASD.
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Web tools to screen children for effects of prenatal alcohol exposure
This project uses online tools to check children ages 6–17 for physical, thinking, and behavior signs linked to prenatal alcohol exposure.
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Choline Genetics and Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders in Children
This study looks at how genetic differences in choline metabolism affect cognitive and behavioral outcomes in children with prenatal alcohol exposure who may benefit from choline supplementation.
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Data coordination for Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders research
A national collaboration coordinates data and sharing to help understand and improve care for children affected by prenatal alcohol exposure and FASD.
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Improved FASD screening for kids using BRAIN-online in Spanish
A web-based, Spanish-enabled screening tool helps identify signs of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders in children to guide further evaluation and support.
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How prenatal alcohol exposure harms hearing development
Researchers are looking at how alcohol exposure during pregnancy changes the brain cells that help process sound in mice, to better understand hearing problems in children with fetal alcohol spectrum disorders.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.