[tri-med] Re: new drug study

Gives us that wonderful word......HOPE. Thanks for sharing Jude.

At 02:10 AM 22/08/2007, you wrote:
>DENVER - Medical researchers in Colorado say it is promising. They have
>uncovered clues that could help reverse the learning deficits associated
>with Down syndrome.
>
>
>The work has been done at the University of Colorado at Denver Health
>Sciences Center. The results have the potential to help the 350,000 people
>in the United States who have Down syndrome.
>
>One in every 733 children is born with it and the numbers are growing
>everyday.
>
>Sophia Whitten, 4, is a joyful, energetic and beautiful little girl. Sophia
>also has Down syndrome.
>
>Her mom, Michelle Sie Whitten, said most people underestimate people with
>Down syndrome.
>
>"People have no idea what our kids are capable of. There are people with
>Down syndrome driving and getting married. Twenty years ago they were
>institutionalized and had a life span of 28 years old," said Whitten.
>
>Whitten says much more progress is needed. She says medical research is
>critical to address other obstacles.
>
>"In terms of learning it does take longer and there are more challenges in
>terms of math in particular," she said.
>
>That is where the new findings could really be significant. The research
>tested the effectiveness of memantine. It is an FDA-approved drug already
>being used to treat patients with Alzheimer's disease.
>
>Forty mice with an animal model of Down syndrome were given the drug for two
>years. They were found to have better memory retention and showed increased
>learning.
>
>The lead author of the study was Alberto Costa, MD, PhD, and associate
>professor of medicine and neuroscience at the CU-Denver School of Medicine.
>
>"It is exciting. It is a glimmer of hope that it is something that will be
>able to help children with Down syndrome," he said.
>
>It is something that is very close to Costa's heart. His 12-year-old
>daughter has Down syndrome.
>
>"The hope here basically now is that we can translate what we found to be
>true in the lab into human research now. While it is hard to predict, I
>think it is very realistic to think (it would translate to humans) because
>those mice have the same sort of biological underlying problems as people
>with Down syndrome," said Costa.
>
>There are 93 conditions that the federal government provides research money
>for. Of those, Down syndrome ranks 93rd.
>
>Colorado researchers say financial support from local foundations keeps them
>going.
>
>Whitten runs one of those important local non-profit groups. It is the Anna
>and John J. Sie Foundation. Last year, it gave $1 million for Down syndrome
>research; including Costa's research.
>
>"I think Alberto's work is a first big step towards some significant
>breakthrough," said Costa.
>
>Costa says the next step is testing to see if the drug has the same effect
>on humans as it did on the mice. He hopes to start a clinical trail in
>Denver. There is no specific timeline set for that trial to start but he
>hopes to get approval sometime in the next two months.
>
>*****
>just another kind of trisomy...
>jude, mom to derek-21, kelsey-19
>and kameron-10-full t18 (hanging out so i will never be an empty nester)
>golden, colorado usa
>http://www.judewolpert.com
>http://home.comcast.net/~jfwolpert2
>http://flickr.com/photos/judewolpert/
>
>                   Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
>                        www.trisomyonline.org
>                   Families Helping Families On-line
>
>
>
>
>--
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>17/08/2007 5:43 PM

Jocelyn, Wife to Frank, Mother to Ian, Gillian & Susan. Maker of 
quilts, singer of songs,
Nanna to Carly 20, Mathew 18, Ashleigh 17, Alex 15, and Tess 10 years 
old with T18.
also step Nanna to Carrie age 19. & Great Grandmother to Eli, Jonas & Escha.
Living in NSW, Australia 

                  Building ___ooOOoo__ Rainbows
                       www.trisomyonline.org
                  Families Helping Families On-line

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