Medications to treat sleep apnea and boost thinking in children with Down syndrome
Official title: Medications for Obstructive Sleep Apnea to Improve Cognition in Children with Down Syndrome (MOSAIC DS)
Funded at University of Arizona · NIH-11178895 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project gives a combination of two commonly used medicines, atomoxetine and oxybutynin, to children with Down syndrome who have obstructive sleep apnea to see if it helps them sleep better and think more clearly.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Arizona NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Tucson, United States) |
| Project start | September 15, 2019 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $297,765 |
| NIH project number | 3R33HL151254-05S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11178895 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with Down syndrome who have diagnosed obstructive sleep apnea and whose caregivers are willing to try nightly medication and attend study visits are the ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
Children without obstructive sleep apnea, those with medical reasons they cannot take atomoxetine or oxybutynin, or those who cannot adhere to nightly medication may not benefit from this approach.
What this research studies
Your child would receive a nightly combination of atomoxetine and oxybutynin, two drugs already used in children for other conditions. The study team will use overnight sleep studies and other sleep measures to track changes in breathing during sleep and will use brief cognitive tests and questionnaires to track thinking, behavior, and quality of life. Doctors will monitor for side effects and how well families can give the medicine each night. The aim is to offer a non-surgical, medication-based option that could reduce sleep apnea and its impact on learning and daily life.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could reduce sleep apnea symptoms and improve thinking, behavior, and overall quality of life for children with Down syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: The drug combination has helped adults with OSA and nerve-stimulation surgery has helped some adolescents with Down syndrome, but medication use for sleep apnea in young children with Down syndrome is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Arizona
Tucson, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Combs, Daniel — University of Arizona
- Study coordinator: Combs, Daniel
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Improving sleep and cognition in children with Down syndrome using medications.
This study is looking at whether a mix of two medications, atomoxetine and oxybutynin, can help kids with Down syndrome who have obstructive sleep apnea sleep better and think more clearly.
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Personalized DISE-guided surgery for sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome
A personalized surgical approach guided by DISE sleep-endoscopy is being tested to better treat sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome who don’t always improve after standard surgery.
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Oxygen therapy for kids with Down syndrome and sleep apnea
A study tests whether low-flow oxygen helps children with Down syndrome and moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea who have not benefited from first-line surgery.
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Low-flow nighttime oxygen for children and teens with Down syndrome and sleep apnea
This project tests whether nightly low-flow oxygen helps children and adolescents with Down syndrome who have moderate to severe obstructive sleep apnea.
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Testing oxygen therapy for children with Down Syndrome and sleep apnea
This study is looking at whether low-flow oxygen therapy can help kids and teens with Down Syndrome who have trouble breathing while sleeping, aiming to see if it can make them feel better and improve their daily lives, especially for those who haven't found relief with other treatments.
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Personalized surgery for sleep apnea in children with Down syndrome
This trial will see if using sleep endoscopy to guide personalized airway surgery helps children with Down syndrome who have obstructive sleep apnea.
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.