Foster care before age 2 could rewire brains of orphaned kids, study hints

NCT ID NCT00747396

First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study follows 136 children from Romania who were placed in foster care after living in institutions. Researchers track their thinking skills, emotional health, brain activity, and social behavior into young adulthood. The goal is to understand whether early foster care can improve long-term outcomes for children who experienced severe neglect.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

Foster care placement

What this could lead to

If successful, this study could show that early foster care helps reverse some effects of institutional deprivation on brain development and mental health.

What could go wrong

This is an observational follow-up, not a treatment trial. Results may not apply to other settings or populations, and individual outcomes vary widely.

Disclaimer Read more

This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

CGF1 Health Behavior Language psychiatric disorder Risk-Taking

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Fundatia Tanner

    Bucharest, 011467, Romania