A Clinical Perspective on Down Syndrome
Down syndrome is a neurodevelopmental disorder that affects approximately 1 in 800 live births. Fortunately, improved medical care has dramatically increased life expectancy for individuals born with Down syndrome.
We believe that improved mental abilities in individuals with Down syndrome will increase their independence and improve their quality of life. We have therefore made it our goal to find treatments that will help individuals with Down syndrome learn and remember better.
Recent findings in the Garner laboratory have shown that several drugs were able to increase learning in a model of Down syndrome. These encouraging findings have lead us to jumpstart a clinical trial to test the use of such drugs in individuals with Down syndrome.
We are hopeful, that we will be able to quickly translate our research findings into a useful therapy to improve mental abilities in individuals with Down syndrome.
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