The Good News about DS #10

[Guest guest]

The GOOD NEWS about DS

Episode 10 Is it time to go from super mouse to DS man?

Just to remind you we told you of a major discovery in the last episode.

Contrary to popular belief the DS brain does not need more positive signals: it

needs less negative ones. The researchers at Stanford have found that an excess

of inhibitory signals is the problem. There are too many red lights in the

system and making the green lights greener doesn't help, we have to turn off

some of the red lights.

Research has clarified the mystery. They have given us a well defined objective.

It now looks more like a medical problem that should respond to the proper

medication than an insurmountable mass of confusion. An extensive literature

search has uncovered a short list of products that demonstrate this type of

restrictive activity on inhibitory transmission. They will be reviewed and

tested.

It would appear that we are close to our first " treatment program " earlier than

we could have expected. A program designed to test a product that will

measurably improve the memory of a person with DS. There is no doubt that with

improved memory will come increased learning and ability to participate in

social activities. Memory is a fundamental requirement to understanding and

learning and this will lead to many more improvements that we will not try to

enumerate here.

The Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation is proud to have supported

this work and will continue in this and other efforts to improve the quality of

life for those with DS and their providers.