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.

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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

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