Trigeminal (facial) nerve stimulation to help children with prenatal alcohol exposure
Trigeminal Nerve Stimulation for Prenatal Alcohol Exposure
This project tries a gentle, noninvasive nerve stimulation (TNS) to reduce attention, hyperactivity, and thinking problems in children with prenatal alcohol exposure.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11196725 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You'll be asked to use a small, noninvasive device that delivers very mild electrical pulses to a branch of the facial (trigeminal) nerve for prescribed sessions. In the first (R61) pilot phase, researchers will check whether children with prenatal alcohol exposure can use the device as directed, whether they have any side effects, and whether there are early signs of symptom improvement. TNS is low-risk, has been FDA-cleared for pediatric ADHD, and has shown benefit in children with attention and hyperactivity problems. If the pilot phase looks promising, the team plans a larger follow-up phase to test effects more thoroughly.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Children up to about 11 years old with documented prenatal alcohol exposure and ongoing attention, hyperactivity, or executive functioning problems would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: Children without prenatal alcohol exposure, those whose symptoms are already well-controlled on current treatments, or those with contraindications to electrical stimulation may not benefit or be eligible.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, TNS could reduce inattention, hyperactivity, and executive function problems in children with prenatal alcohol exposure and offer a low-risk treatment option.
How similar studies have performed: TNS has been shown to be safe and effective in pediatric ADHD trials, but it has not been tested systematically before in children with prenatal alcohol exposure.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: O'neill, Joseph — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: O'neill, Joseph
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 below.