Could the smell of roses prevent sudden death in epilepsy?
NCT ID NCT07116421
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This early-phase study tests whether breathing in rose scent can reduce the number of times people with epilepsy stop breathing during seizures. Forty adults admitted to a hospital epilepsy monitoring unit will have their brain activity and breathing tracked for 48 hours, with rose scent diffused into their room for the second 24 hours. The goal is to see if this simple, pleasant smell can lower the risk of Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy (SUDEP).
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- 2-phenylethanol (rose scent) delivered via essential oil diffuser
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a simple, non-invasive way to reduce breathing problems during seizures and potentially lower the risk of sudden death in epilepsy.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very early, small trial with only 40 participants and no control group. The effect may be small or absent, and some people may find the scent unpleasant or irritating.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Early phase 1
The earliest testing in people: a first look at safety, in a very small group.
- Participants
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About 40 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2025
- Expected to finish
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May 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 years and older
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Adult epilepsy patients over the age of 18 * Admission to the inpatient epilepsy monitoring unit (EMU) at Vanderbilt University Medical Center (VUMC) * Undergoing observational EEG monitoring without treatment involving seizure medication changes or other interventions for at least 48 hours Exclusion Criteria: * Patients under the age of 18 * Patients receiving EEG monitoring without interventions from baseline for less than 48 hours * Patients who are not receiving EEG monitoring as a part of their inpatient admission.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Vanderbilt University Medical Center
RECRUITINGNashville, Tennessee, 37232, United States
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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- Can video games rewire young brains after injury?
- High-Fat Diet's effect on epilepsy: scientists track brain signals
- Epilepsy drug candidate put to the test in healthy volunteers