Physicians at Barrow Neurological Institute at St. Joseph’s Hospital and Medical Center are conducting a novel research study to evaluate a medication that could improve intellectual function in young adults with Down syndrome. Participants for the clinical trial are currently being recruited.
“To my knowledge, this is the first trial of its kind,” says Benjamin Seltzer, MD, Director of the Center of Alzheimer’s Disease and Cognitive Disorders at Barrow Neurological Institute. “Down syndrome is the most important cause of development delay. Many of the medical problems associated with Down syndrome, such as low thyroid and heart defects, can now be corrected. But, until recently, there has been little hope that we could ever truly improve intellectual function (in Downs people). Now, however, researchers have developed a medication that may have such a benefit. (A study like this has been needed for a long time).”
There are more than 400,000 people living with Down syndrome in the United States. One in every 691 babies is born with Down syndrome.
The clinical trial at Barrow will last about 15 weeks. Participants will be required to take the newly developed medication twice daily and to have periodic blood and memory testing and brain wave examinations. The study is also being conducted at several other research centers in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Participants can be male or female and should be between 18 and 30 years of age. They must be in good general health and have a reliable person who can accompany them to all appointments.
