Down Syndrome News and Research

Latest Down Syndrome News and Research

Research focuses on DYRK1A gene in association with Down's syndrome

Research undertaken in recent years on Down's syndrome has focused on the DYRK1A gene. The superexpression of this gene affects transmission in the neurones, according to Mr Garikoitz Azkona. In his PhD thesis, The molecular bases of neuropathology in Down's syndrome: the role of DYRK1A, Mr Azkona argues that this failure in neurone transmission could be behind the problem that persons with Down's syndrome have regarding visual-spatial memory.

2 Mar 2010

Determining personal risk for genetic disorders essential

Genetic diseases affect an estimated 12 million Americans, yet according to a survey of 1,000 people conducted by the Genetic Disease Foundation (GDF), while two-thirds of those surveyed were willing to and saw the benefits of undergoing genetic testing, close to 80 percent had never talked to their physician about genetic screening – an inconsistency that can have serious implications on a person's overall health and the health of their immediate family members.

1 Mar 2010

Researchers find gene regulator that plays key role in DS-AMKL

Between 5 and 10 percent of babies with Down syndrome develop a transient form of leukemia that usually resolves on its own. However, for reasons that haven't been clear, 20 to 30 percent of these babies progress to a more serious leukemia known as Down syndrome acute megakaryoblastic leukemia (DS-AMKL), which affects the blood progenitor cells that form red blood cells and platelets.

1 Mar 2010

CAMH signs licensing agreement with US-based Athena Diagnostics to market new genetic test

For the second time in as many months the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health has signed a licensing agreement with US-based Athena Diagnostics Inc. to market a new genetic test.

From Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. 26 Feb 2010

QR Pharma awarded patent covering use of Posiphen and analogs in treatment of DS

QR Pharma, Inc., a developer of novel drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD), announced today that it was issued U.S. Patent No. 7,625,942, a "Method of Treating Down Syndrome" by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. The '942 patent covers use of Posiphen and analogs to treat cognitive impairments associated with Down Syndrome (DS). This patent valuably expands upon the original Posiphen and analog patent that claims composition of matter and use of compounds to lower amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) and thereby treat dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

24 Feb 2010

Children's Hospital of Philadelphia awarded two grants to research into cellular therapies for blood disorders

The new decade may herald an era of cell therapy -- treating human diseases by delivering highly specific beneficial cells. In the wake of an NIH decision late last year permitting federally funded researchers to use new lines of human embryonic stem cells, the door has opened more widely to stem cell research.

16 Feb 2010

QR Pharma commences clinical trial of Posiphen in early stage AD patients

QR Pharma, Inc. , a developer of novel drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease, announced today that it began a clinical trial of its lead compound, Posiphen, in early stage AD patients.

10 Feb 2010

Ikonisys to showcase oncoFISH cervical test at Eurogin 2010 Cervical Cancer Prevention Conference

Ikonisys announced today that they will exhibit their proprietary oncoFISH® cervical test at the Eurogin 2010 Cervical Cancer Prevention Conference held at the Grimaldi Forum in Monte Carlo from February 17-20.

10 Feb 2010

Project Lifesaver International, Xanboo to offer medical facilities to help people with cognitive disorder

Project Lifesaver International, a non-profit organization specializing in training public safety agencies on search and rescue programs to help individuals with cognitive conditions that wander, announced today they will be teaming with Xanboo, a wireless equipment company that supplies a wide variety of intrusion and security products, including indoor and outdoor cameras, control of lighting, door/window censors, and other security products.

5 Feb 2010

Down Syndrome, menopause, dementia and death

Women experiencing an early onset of menopause could develop dementia at a younger age. Research by Tonnie Coppus of Erasmus MC has indicated this. She studied women with Down Syndrome, who are known to have an early onset of menopause. The results of her research can be translated to apply to the general population. Her results will be published in the Journal of Alzheimer Disease today.

28 Jan 2010

Women experiencing early menopause could develop dementia at a younger age

28 Jan 2010

UCSB research: Rapamycin drug, a potential treatment for ADPKD

Research performed at UC Santa Barbara points to the drug rapamycin as a potential treatment for kidney disease. The study builds on past research and shows that studies performed on mice are more likely to translate to humans than previously thought.

27 Jan 2010

Behavioral Innovations opens its first autism treatment center in Texas

Behavioral Innovations, the premier provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for families of children with autism and other developmental disorders, today announces the opening of its San Antonio location, which will begin offering services February 1. The company is in the process of expanding to Fort Worth and Wichita Falls where they will begin serving families in early spring.

21 Jan 2010

Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease are the same

Nearly 20 years ago Huntington Potter kicked up a storm of controversy with the idea that Down syndrome and Alzheimer's were the same disease. Now the evidence is in: He was right.

18 Jan 2010

Behavioral Innovations partners with insurance companies to mitigate financial burden on parents

Behavioral Innovations, the premier Dallas/Fort Worth provider of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services for families of children with autism and other developmental disorders, announces its partnership with key insurance carriers to offer in-network insurance coverage for several ABA therapy programs. Behavioral Innovations is the first behavioral therapy center in the Metroplex to offer in-network insurance for select treatments - mitigating the financial burden on parents.

8 Jan 2010

New research may yield more effective treatment for childhood leukemia

A team of Israeli scientists at the Sheba Medical Center's Research Center for Leukemia and Childhood Malignancies has discovered a method for developing a more effective and less perilous treatment for those suffering from childhood leukemia, the most common cancer in children.

6 Jan 2010

Ben-Gurion University researcher defines integrated interpretation of ASD

A researcher from Ben-Gurion University of the Negev has defined a new, integrated interpretation of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD), which makes it easier to understand both the commonalities and differences between ASD and other conditions.

5 Jan 2010

Study identifies novel factor that causes Alzheimer's disease

Inheritance of an extra copy of the gene- β -amyloid precursor protein, APP, in individuals with Down syndrome leads to the inevitable development of early onset Alzheimer's disease, known to be linked to the deposition of Amyloid β peptide or Aβ in the brain.

5 Jan 2010

New chromosomal screening strategy shows promise in PGS

A new strategy that researchers believe provides a more comprehensive screening of the entire chromosomal makeup of an embryo shows tremendous promise in the field of preimplantation genetic screening (PGS) according to a study published in the December issue of Fertility and Sterility.

31 Dec 2009

Hydrocephalus Association awards stimulus grants for research initiative

The Hydrocephalus Association has announced research grants to scientists at five medical centers, in a new initiative to address the shortfall in progress in the treatment of hydrocephalus, a condition affecting one million Americans.

17 Dec 2009