Researchers say drugs may fight developmental disabilities
July 7th, 2008
From the Philadelphia Inquirer:
Scientists say several drugs approved for other uses have effectively treated mental impairment in animals, and may soon be tried on humans. They are experimenting on animals bred to have genetic diseases that, in humans, can lead to mental retardation or autism.
An anti-anxiety drug reversed symptoms of fragile X in fruit flies, researchers said, and an organ-rejection drug improved learning in mice with an autism-related condition. A drug that reversed learning deficits in mice with the equivalent of Down syndrome has not been approved for other uses, so scientists must go through a lengthy approval process before using it in experiments on people.
It is not known whether the drugs would have a beneficial effect on people, whether they might also have harmful side effects, or whether potential benefits outweigh risks.
(Mouse model of Down syndrome, above; photo from Stanford Down Syndrome Research Center)
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