Drug Used to Treat Dementia in Alzheimer’s Disease Reported to Improve Memory in a Mouse Model of Down Syndrome
August 21, 2007

Researchers at the University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center have published a study describing interesting and promising results in improving a type of memory in a mouse model of Down syndrome obtained by administering a drug, memantine, currently approved for the treatment of symptoms associated with moderate to severe dementia in Alzheimer’s disease.  Evaluation of memantine as a potential treatment for cognitive impairment in individuals with Down syndrome and correlation with the results in the mouse model will require undertaking double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trials in humans with Down syndrome.  The Colorado researchers are currently planning a pilot clinical study as a follow on to the mouse model study reported in the scientific journal Neuropsychopharmacology. 

DSRTF commends the University of Colorado at Denver Health Sciences Center researchers as well as the Anna & John J. Sie Foundation, Mile High and Colorado Springs Down Syndrome Associations, Coleman Institute for Cognitive Disabilities, and NIH for their support in advancing this research.

To view the original press release, click here
To view the Abstract for the original scientific publication, click here