Fundraisers are planned Mar 19, 2008
LOCAL PIZZA BUSINESS TO PROVIDE FUNDS FOR FRAGILE X SYNDROME. This is Fragile X Syndrome Fundraiser Night at Papa John's Pizza in Canton. (Canton Daily Ledger, IL)
Non-Stimulant Curbs ADHD in Fragile X Syndrome Mar 15, 2008
NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - L-acetylcarnitine (LAC), a natural substance devoid of side effects, may be considered an alternative to stimulants to control attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children with the genetic disorder known as fragile X syndrome, researchers conclude based on study they conducted. Fragile X syndrome is an inherited form of mental retardation ... ADHD is common in young boys with fragile X syndrome and alternatives to methylphenidate and other stimulant... (MEDLINEplus)
Drosophila drug screen for fragile X syndrome finds promising compounds and potential drug targets Mar 10, 2008
Scientists using a new drug screening method in Drosophila (fruit flies), have identified several drugs and small molecules that reverse the features of fragile X syndrome -- a frequent form of mental retardation and one of the leading known causes of autism. The discovery sets the stage for developing new treatments for fragile X syndrome ... Dr. Warren led an international group of scientists that discovered the FMR1 gene responsible for fragile X syndrome in 1991. (EurekAlert!)
Congressional hopeful makes stop in city Feb 26, 2008
What sets Harper apart from his peers, he said, is political experience and a devotion to family, which stems from his son Livingston, an 18-year-old who is affected by a genetic abnormality called Fragile X Syndrome. "That has profoundly affected our lives," Harper said. (Brookhaven Daily Leader, MS)
Effective ADHD Treatment Found For Children With Fragile X Syndrome Feb 22, 2008
21, 2008) Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common hereditary form of mental retardation ... Journal reference: A Double-Blind, Parallel, Multicenter Comparison of L-acetylcarnitine with Placebo on the Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in Fragile X Syndrome Boys, M. Giulia Torrioli, Silvia Vernacotola, Laura Peruzzi, Elisabetta Tabolacci, Montserrat Mila, Roberto Militerni, Sebastiano Musumeci, Feliciano J. Ramos, Mar;a Frontera, Giovanni Sorge, Elisabetta Marzullo, Giusi Romeo, Louis... (Science Daily)
Some cases of autism may be traced to the immune system of mothers during pregnancy Feb 12, 2008
The UC Davis M.I.N.D. (Medical Investigation of Neurodevelopmental Disorders) Institute is a unique collaborative center that brings together clinicians, scientists, parents and educators for research on causes, treatments, preventions and cures for autism, fragile X syndrome, Tourettes syndrome, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and other neurodevelopmental disorders. For more information, visit. (EurekAlert!)
New embryo test to screen for 6,000 diseases Feb 2, 2008
Ian Sample in PragueMonday June 19, 2006. British fertility specialists have developed a powerful new way to test embryos for inherited diseases, offering hundreds of couples their first realistic chance of having healthy children. (Yahoo News -- Biotechnology and Genetics)
New Gene Linked To Fragile X Syndrome -- Suggests Potential Targets For Autism And Other Neurological Disorders Feb 2, 2008
1, 2008) Scientists at The Scripps Research Institute have discovered a new gene involved in fragile X syndrome, a condition that often shares many symptoms of autism ... "FMR4 is a novel gene that is located in the same chromosomal neighborhood as FMR1, a well established causative gene in fragile X syndrome," said Claes Wahlestedt, a professor at the Scripps Research campus in Jupiter, Florida ... Fragile X syndrome affects thousands of patients worldwide with severe learning disabilities,... (Science Daily)
Fragile X Syndrome May Be Caused By Two Duplicated Genes Producing Excess Protein Feb 1, 2008
The findings suggest the possibility of fragile X syndrome therapies. (Oct. (Science Daily)
Candidate promotes local initiatives Jan 31, 2008
Harper's 18-year-old son Livingston has Fragile X Syndrome, a genetic condition that affects development and learning. We're going to be very committed and sensitive to those families with special needs, Harper told the group. (Columbus Commercial Dispatch, MS)
Embryos at risk of disease can pass clinic tests, parents warned Jan 21, 2008
Cells can be checked for up to 100 diseases such as Huntington's, cystic fibrosis, muscular dystrophy, Down syndrome and fragile X syndrome, sparing couples the trauma of a termination if the embryo is later found to be carrying a deadly gene. But a fertility specialist at IVF Australia, Michael Chapman, said yesterday the technology was not foolproof and any patient wanting it needed to have two hour-long sessions of counselling with a genetic counsellor to make sure they understood the risks. (Sydney Morning Herald -- Australia)
Chemical Signals Go Awry in Fragile X Syndrome Jan 16, 2008
MONDAY, Jan. 14 (HealthDay News) -- New information about how brain cells are affected in Fragile X syndrome -- the most common cause of inherited mental retardation -- has been uncovered. In the study, researchers at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas examined mice to see how Fragile X syndrome affects communication between cells in the hippocampus, a part of the brain involved in learning and memory ... "I think we've discovered a core mechanism underlying Fragile X... (MEDLINEplus)
Mechanisms Of Common Inherited Mental Retardation Uncovered Jan 9, 2008
9, 2008) Researchers at UT Southwestern Medical Center are uncovering how brain cells are affected in Fragile X syndrome, the most common cause of inherited mental retardation and the most common genetic cause of autism ... I think we ve discovered a core mechanism underlying Fragile X syndrome, said Dr. Kimberly Huber, assistant professor of neuroscience and senior author of a study appearing in the Journal of Neuroscience January 9 ... Dr. Huber s research with mice focuses on how Fragile X... (Science Daily)
Autistic Kids: The Sibling Problem Jan 5, 2008
A breakthrough study in mice points the way to reversing symptoms of Fragile X Syndrome and gives hope for treating other autistic disorders. None taken. (Time.com)
A New Approach to Correcting Autism Dec 25, 2007
Parker Roos (right) and his sister Allison, both of whom have fragile X syndrome, wait for evaluations and check-ups at the UC Davis M.I.N.D. Institute ... The most common of these responsible for roughly 5% of autism cases is a flaw in the X chromosome that causes a condition known as Fragile X Syndrome ... Roughly 1 in 3,600 people have Fragile X Syndrome, with boys more severely affected than girls. (Time.com)
Fragile X Syndrome Corrected in Mice Dec 21, 2007
WEDNESDAY, Dec. 19 (HealthDay News) -- By targeting one gene, scientists have been able to correct many of the abnormalities associated with fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of childhood retardation. Fragile X syndrome is caused by loss of the gene for "fragile X mental retardation protein" (FMRP) ... There is currently no treatment or therapy for fragile X syndrome. (MEDLINEplus)
Fragile X Syndrome: Gene Fix? Dec 20, 2007
Fragile X Syndrome: Gene Fix ... Fragile X Syndrome: Gene Fix ... Fragile X syndrome is the most common form of inherited mental retardation and is associated with autism. (CBS News)
Gene tinkering curbs autism signsin mice Dec 20, 2007
So far, the research indicates the drugs will only be effective for one form of autism that is caused by a mutation of a gene on the X chromosome, a condition known as fragile X syndrome ... Seaside now plans to meet with the Food and Drug Administration to request approval to begin clinical trials involving people with fragile X syndrome and autism. (MSNBC -- Health)
Gene therapy 'corrects fragile X' Dec 20, 2007
There is currently no treatment for fragile X syndrome, also linked to epilepsy and abnormal body growth, but the new work raises hopes of progress ... These findings have major therapeutic implications for fragile X syndrome and autism ... FRAGILE X SYNDROME Boys usually more severely affected Main problem is mental impairment Other symptoms include hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, emotional and behavioural problems, anxiety and mood swings There may also be characteristic facial... (BBC News -- Health)
Retardation And Autism Corrected In Mice Dec 20, 2007
They have significantly alleviated a wide range of abnormalities due to fragile X syndrome by altering only a single gene, countering the effects of the fragile X mutation ... There is currently no treatment or therapy for fragile X syndrome, whose symptoms include mental retardation, epilepsy, and abnormal body growth ... Fragile X syndrome (FXS), affecting 100,000 Americans, is the most common inherited cause of mental retardation and autism. (Science Daily)
After stem-cell breakthrough, the work begins Nov 27, 2007
Just this month, Israeli scientists reported in the journal Cell Stem Cell that they had created stem cell lines from embryos donated by families with a history of fragile X syndrome, a disease that leads to mental retardation and is caused by the silencing of a particular gene. Studying the stem cells, they got a better understanding of when and how this silencing occurred. (International Herald Tribune)
Human Embryonic Stem Cells Derived From Preimplantation Genetically Diagnosed Embryos Nov 16, 2007
15, 2007) A human stem cell line derived from embryos that were identified by preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) to carry the mutation for fragile X syndrome has provided an unprecedented view of early events associated with this disease ... Fragile X syndrome, the most common cause of inherited mental impairment and of autism, is caused by the absence of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) ... The research team went on to show that differentiated derivatives of HEFX cells... (Science Daily)
Homing in on the Silenced Gene Behind Mental Retardation Nov 16, 2007
A new stem cell line with the mutation for fragile X syndrome may help uncover the mechanism behind the debilitating disorder ... For years, research on fragile X syndrome, the most common genetic mental illness, has suffered from an inadequate ... Karen Usdin, a senior investigator who works on fragile X syndrome at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in Bethesda, Md. (Nature News Service)
Stem cells model disease Nov 15, 2007
Researchers have used a line of carrying the mutation for Fragile X Syndrome, the most common genetic form of mental retardation, to determine when the altered gene exerts its effect during development, according to a published online this week in Cell Stem Cell ... R. Eiges et al., "Developmental Study of Fragile X Syndrome Using Human Embryonic Stem Cells Derived from Preimplantation Genetically Diagnosed Embryos," published online November 15, 2007. (The Scientist)
Cancer Gene Drives Pivotal Decision In Early Brain Development Nov 15, 2007
14, 2007) An important finding has been made about fragile X syndrome, a sex-linked genetic disorder that affects approximately one in 4,000 males and one in 6,000 females. Fragile X syndrome is the most. (Science Daily)
Multiple Fluorescent Proteins Blend In Fantastic Images Of Neurons Nov 6, 2007
2, 2004) Using an animal model system, researchers have advanced our understanding of Fragile X Syndrome by successfully visualizing individual mutant neurons in an otherwise normal brain. They find that. (Science Daily)
Brain Defect Helps Drive Fragile X Syndrome Sep 22, 2007
THURSDAY, Sept. 20 (HealthDay News) -- A newly discovered brain defect might be a target for the treatment of the inherited mental disorder known as fragile X syndrome, researchers report ... "Fragile X syndrome is the most common form of inherited mental retardation," explained co-author Gary J. Bassell, a professor of cell biology at Emory University in Atlanta ... Fragile X syndrome occurs in approximately one in 4,000 males and one in 8,000 females, Bassell noted. (MEDLINEplus)
Health Highlights: Sept. 18, 2007 Sep 20, 2007
Gene Mutation Hinders Brain Cells in People With Fragile X Syndrome ... Mutant Gene Hinders Brain Cells in People With Fragile X Syndrome ... A mutant gene that causes fragile X syndrome -- the most common cause of inherited mental retardation -- hinders communication between brain cells, say Emory University researchers, who were able to use drugs to reverse the mutation in rats' brain cells. (MEDLINEplus)
How mutant gene causes fragile X Sep 19, 2007
A team from Emory University examined the key gene mutation behind fragile X Syndrome - the most common cause of inherited learning difficulties ... FRAGILE X SYNDROME Boys usually more severely affected Main problem is mental impairment Other symptoms include hyperactivity, attention deficit disorder, emotional and behavioural problems, anxiety and mood swings There may also be characteristic facial features, such as a long face and large ears Other physical features include flat feet and... (BBC News -- Science)
Fragile X Syndrome: Fundamental Brain Defect And Probable Drug Target Identified Sep 19, 2007
Scientists have discovered how the gene mutation responsible for fragile X syndrome--the most common inherited form of mental retardation--alters the way brain cells communicate ... "We have now explained the fundamental defect in the brain in fragile X syndrome and, most importantly, found that we can correct this problem in the laboratory," says Dr. Warren ... "This is quite exciting, progressing from the identification of the gene in 1991 to now believing we will be able to treat a previously... (Science Daily)
Technology to read 3D scans Sep 15, 2007
In a condition such as Fragile X syndrome, sufferers have long faces and protruding ears and symptoms include learning disabilities and delays in speech. Delay in diagnosis (of such cases) causes anxiety to parents who need advice on risks to future children, said Hammond. (India Times, India)
Face-scan can spot genetic illnesses Sep 12, 2007
" The system is already being used as a training aid to help paediatricians recognise some of the more obscure genetic conditions. THE TELL-TALE SIGNS Williams syndrome: Affects one in 10-20,000 children, causing learning difficulties and problems with the heart, kidneys, muscles and skeleton. Facial features include a turned-up nose, narrow head, and small jaw. Fragile X syndrome: The leading cause of inherited mental retardation. It affects around one in 3,600 boys and one in 4-6,000 girls and... (Scotsman)
Mouse Model Of Autism Spectrum Disorders Developed Sep 11, 2007
"For example, autistic symptoms are only one component of mouse models of Fragile X syndrome. "What sets this mouse model apart is that the mouse shows highly selective social deficits and memory enhancement, but as far as we can tell, no other pathologies. This makes it a potentially useful model for a subset of people with ASDs with just such characteristics," he said. S?dhof his colleagues will use the mouse model to ask additional questions about the role that neuroligin proteins play in... (Science Daily)
Stem cell research produces a key discovery for Fragile X Syndrome Sep 11, 2007
An important finding has been made by McMaster researchers about Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), a sex-linked genetic disorder that affects approximately one in 4,000 males and one in 6,000 females. FXS is the most common genetic disorder associated with mental impairment. (EurekAlert!)
3D face scans aid gene analysis Sep 10, 2007
While those with Fragile X syndrome, which has an incidence of about one in 4,000, have long, narrow faces and large or protruding ears. For some genetic conditions, facial differences can be very subtle and cases can be rare, making initial diagnosis extremely difficult. (BBC News -- UK)
UC Davis Receives More Than $21 Million To Find Treatments That Reverse Common Cause Of Dementia In Older Adults Davis, Sep. 06 Sep 7, 2007
Discovered in 2001 by Paul Hagerman and Randi Hagerman, FXTAS (pronounced "FAX-tass") affects carriers of a small mutation -- also called a premutation -- in the same gene that causes fragile X syndrome ... Randi Hagerman, a developmental-behavioral pediatrician who specializes in diagnosing and treating children with fragile X syndrome, has expanded her practice in recent years to include her young patients' grandfathers and, at times, grandmothers with FXTAS. The outcomes can be heartbreaking... (University of California Newswire, CA)
A new RNA disease? Aug 16, 2007
Although FXTAS shares a genetic locus with fragile X syndrome, the most common inherited form of mental retardation, the condition shares none of its phenotype. Because the fragile X mutation has more than 200 repeats, the DNA itself becomes highly methylated, shutting down transcription of FMR1 mRNA so that no FMR1 protein is made. (The Scientist)
Proteins Involved In New Neurodegenerative Syndrome Identifed Aug 16, 2007
The interplay of two proteins that bind to messenger RNA, a molecule that mediates translation of the information encoded in genes into proteins, triggers the appearance of fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FTAX), a late-life disorder associated with the gene that causes fragile X syndrome in children, said researchers from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston and Emory University School of Medicine in a report that appears August 15 in the journal Neuron. "They are two different... (Science Daily)
Webcast and Experts Consortium Highlight National Fragile X Awareness Day Activities Jul 20, 2007
DENVER, July 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- More than two dozen of the leading fragile X syndrome (FXS) treatment specialists in North America will convene at Children's Hospital Denver on Friday, July 20, at the third gathering of the Fragile X Clinics Consortium ... Fragile X syndrome is the world's leading cause of inherited intellectual disabilities (formerly referred to as mental retardation) and the most common known, single-gene cause of autism ... Early reports suggested that Benoit's son... (PR Newswire)
Benoit likely sedated son before killing him Jul 18, 2007
A WWE lawyer recently said it's believed the boy suffered from Fragile X Syndrome, a condition that has symptoms ranging from learning disabilities to more severe cognitive or intellectual disabilities. Ads by Google. (National Post)
Chris Benoit Had Steroids, Other Drugs In His System At Time Of Murder-Suicide Jul 18, 2007
Sperry also added that there was no evidence of human-growth hormone in any of the three bodies, which seems to debunk rumors that Benoit had been giving his son HGH to combat Fragile X syndrome. He added that an autopsy revealed that Daniel had needle marks on his arms, though it's unclear what those marks were the result of. (VHI.com -- Music News)
Tragedy put aside in tribute to Nancy and Daniel Benoit Jul 15, 2007
But they were adamant in refuting previous reports that Daniel suffered from Fragile X Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder. "There was absolutely nothing wrong with him, nothing," Nancy's mother, Maureen, said firmly. (Daytona Beach News Journal)
Coping with Fragile X Jul 13, 2007
He was born with Fragile X Syndrome. The disorder is the most common form of inherited mental impairment, with symptoms more severe in boys. (The Daily Reflector)
Former wrestlers react to new info about Chris Benoit's double... Jul 10, 2007
And now it's coming out that family and friends are saying that the child was not undersized and didn't have Fragile X Syndrome, as the WWE said. You knew them. (Fox News)
Scientists Reverse Mental Retardation in Mice Jul 4, 2007
CURRENT ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS. Image: © ISTOCKPHOTO/BRANDON LAUFENBERG. (Scientific American)
Prosecutor says Benoits son wasn't impaired Jul 4, 2007
ATLANTA - A prosecutor investigating pro wrestler Chris Benoit, who killed his wife and son and committed suicide, is questioning World Wrestling Entertainments early assertion that the boy had a form of mental retardation called Fragile X syndrome ... Fragile X syndrome, a disorder affecting the X chromosome, is the most common inherited cause of mental retardation and associated developmental disabilities ... WWE spokesman Gary Davis said Tuesday that McDevitt had first heard Fragile X... (MSNBC -- Sports)
Family learns to cope with child's Fragile X Syndrome Jul 4, 2007
He was born with Fragile X Syndrome. World Wrestling Entertainment has said wrestler Chris Benoit's 7-year-old son Daniel had the disorder, suggesting the strain of working with an impaired child may have been a contributing factor in the murder-suicide at the Benoit home in Fayette County. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution -- Metro)
Stamford teen posted entry on death of wrestler's wife Jul 3, 2007
The two reportedly had argued over how often Benoit was on the road and how best to care for their son, who reportedly suffered from Fragile X syndrome, a form of mental retardation. Copyright. (Stamford Advocate)
Who posted notice of Nancy Benoit's death on Web? Jun 30, 2007
Hi Greta, My son Ryan has Fragile x Syndrome and he is not severe he is nonverbal and he is tall this diease affects children differently. I know of two young gentlemen with this diease and they both gratuated from high school with straight As. (Fox News)
Gene trick reverses retardation in mice - study Jun 30, 2007
They found that by blocking a normal enzyme, they could reverse some of the brain abnormalities associated with the inherited condition, called Fragile X Syndrome, and correct some of the symptoms in the mice. "This is the first case where the reversal of Fragile X Syndrome (has been) demonstrated in the animal model, not only at the level of behavior but also in the underlying cellular mechanisms," said Susumu Tonegawa, a senior neuroscientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology who... (Reuters India)
FRAXA Research Foundation Works to Provide Hope to Families Struggling to Raise a Child, or Children, with Fragile X Syndrome Jun 29, 2007
Those Of Us At FRAXA Express Our Most Sincere Sympathy Over The Heartbreaking Tragedy Of Chris Benoit, His Wife, And Their Son NEWBURYPORT, Mass. June 28 /PRNewswire/ -- FRAXA Research Foundation is a parent run organization that funds research to find effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure for Fragile X. Fragile X is the leading inherited cause of mental retardation and the most common genetic cause of autism. (PR Newswire)
Wrestler's Doctor Raided Jun 29, 2007
The child suffered from a rare medical condition called Fragile X Syndrome, an inherited form of mental retardation often accompanied by autism. . (San Francisco Chronicle -- Sports)
Benoit and wife 'argued over son' Jun 29, 2007
The child suffered from a rare medical condition called Fragile X Syndrome, an inherited form of mental retardation often accompanied by autism, McDevitt said. Over the past weekend, authorities said, Benoit strangled his wife, suffocated his son and placed a Bible next to their bodies before hanging himself with a weight-machine cable in the couple's suburban home. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Physician's office raided Jun 29, 2007
The child suffered from a rare medical condition called Fragile X Syndrome, an inherited form of mental retardation often accompanied by autism. Sponsored Links. (Atlanta Journal-Constitution)
Mystery surrounding Benoit deaths deepens Jun 29, 2007
The child had a rare medical condition called Fragile X Syndrome, an inherited form of mental retardation often accompanied by autism. Chris Benoit's father, Michael Benoit, declined to comment on the slayings when reached Thursday by telephone in Alberta. (Globe and Mail)
Police Ponder Benoit's Wife's Death Timeline Jun 29, 2007
"Attorney: Benoit, Wife Fought Over Son A lawyer for the WWE said that Benoit argued with his wife over the care of their mentally retarded son in the days before the three were found dead in their Georgia home.Attorney Jerry McDevitt said that the issue of caring for the 7-year-old child was a source of "stress and consternation" in the couple's relationship, though it wasn't the only problem in the marriage. The child suffered from a rare medical condition called Fragile X Syndrome, an... (Click2Houston, TX)
Benoits Wrestled Over Child's Care Jun 28, 2007
The child suffered from a rare medical condition called Fragile X Syndrome, an inherited form of mental retardation often accompanied by autism, McDevitt said. (Story continues below). (Fox News)
New embryo test to screen for 6,000 diseases Jun 28, 2007
Ian Sample in PragueMonday June 19, 2006. British fertility specialists have developed a powerful new way to test embryos for inherited diseases, offering hundreds of couples their first realistic chance of having healthy children. (Yahoo News -- Biotechnology and Genetics)
Autism symptoms reversed in lab Jun 28, 2007
Lab mice were bred to show symptoms of Fragile X Syndrome ... US scientists created mice that showed symptoms of Fragile X Syndrome - a leading cause of mental retardation and autism in humans ... Fragile X Syndrome is linked to mutation in a gene carried on the X chromosome called FMR1. (BBC News -- Health)
Wrestler Deaths: 'Couple Argued Over Kid' Jun 28, 2007
"The child suffered from a rare medical condition called Fragile X Syndrome, an inherited form of mental retardation often accompanied by autism," he said. "I think it's fair to say that the subject of caring for that child was part of what made their relationship complicated and difficult, and it's something they were both constantly struggling with.". (Sky News)
Wrestler 'used choke hold on son' Jun 28, 2007
The family was struggling before the killings with how to care for the child, who suffered from a rare medical condition called Fragile X syndrome, an inherited form of mental retardation often accompanied by autism, said Jerry McDevitt, an attorney for World Wrestling Entertainment. "Him and Nancy were clearly struggling about this whole issue, about how to take care of Daniel," McDevitt said. (Sydney Morning Herald)
Fragile X Finding May Help People With Autism Jun 27, 2007
Blocking a key brain chemical can reverse many of the symptoms of Fragile X Syndrome an inherited form of mental retardation often accompanied by autism in mice engineered to have the disease, according to a report in Tuesday's ... There are currently several drugs in development as possible treatments for people with Fragile X Syndrome, said Katie Clapp, co founder of , a Newburyport based nonprofit that helped fund the research. (Fox News)
Research shows way for drug therapy for autism Jun 27, 2007
A strain of mice, genetically engineered by the Nobel laureate Susumu Tonegawa and colleagues at MIT, were manipulated to model 'fragile X syndrome (FXS)', the leading inherited cause of mental retardation and the most common genetic cause of autism. The condition, tied to a mutated gene in the X chromosome, causes mild learning disabilities to severe autism,' researcher Sumantra Chatterji at NCBS told IANS. Presently, there is no effective treatment for FXS and other types of autism affecting... (Zee News)
Fragile X study raises hopes for autism Jun 26, 2007
Blocking a key brain chemical can reverse many of the symptoms of Fragile X Syndrome -- an inherited form of mental retardation often accompanied by autism -- in mice engineered to have the disease, an online scientific journal reported yesterday ... There are currently several drugs in development as possible treatments for people with Fragile X Syndrome, said Katie Clapp, co founder of FRAXA Research Foundation, a Newburyport based nonprofit that helped fund the research ... In all, he said,... (Boston Globe)
MIT researchers reverse symptoms in mice of leading inherited cause of mental retardation Jun 26, 2007
The mice were genetically manipulated to model Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), the leading inherited cause of mental retardation and the most common genetic cause of autism. The condition, tied to a mutated X chromosome gene called fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene, causes mild learning disabilities to severe autism. (EurekAlert!)
