Downs updates

According to the journal of the american medical association, the prevalence of children born with down syndrome is increasing.  Inspite of the fact that many women who's children are diagnosed in utero are terminating their pregnancies. 

Doctors and medical science continue to unravel the secrets of the 21st chromosome.  They've identified a critical region on one arm of the chromosome which seems to be the area responsible for many of the characteristics associated with down syndrome.  They have also found two specific genes in this critical region on the long arm of the 21st chromosome which are seem to be most associated with the phenotype of DS.  These proteins are over-expressed in the hippocampus, cortex, cerebellum, and heart, as well as initiating the processes which lead to the formation of plaques and fibers which are thought to be the genesis of alzheimers among people with DS.

in 2009 research, it was discovered that mice who had similar chromosomes as those found in humans with chromosome 21, had greatly diminished downs characteristics including the intellectually diminished functioning -- their ability to learn was enhanced.  This report was published with great caution tho, because over dosing could lead to extremely deleterious effects and thus the research is very exploratory in nature. 

In more resent research, investigators found that memantine eliminated deficits in hippocampal learning.

there is much good down syndrome research happening and as a psychological scientist, to me this is encouraging.  there are probably many areas of learning, psychology, and behavior that have not been investigated which when combined with genetic, neuronal, and chromosomal research could lead to great advances in down syndrome research -- improving the lives of those born with down syndrome

Reference

Einfeld, S., & Brown, R. (2010). Down syndrome - new prospects for an ancient disease. Journal of the American Medical Association, 303(24), 2525-2526.   

http://jama.ama-assn.org.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/cgi/content/full/303/24/2525

 

have and awesome day

be kewl

D.

Go Back



Comment