Aileen Healy and colleagues explain that people long have viewed intellectual disability as permanent and untreatable, with medical care focusing on relieving some of the symptoms rather than correcting the underlying causes.

That includes Fragile X syndrome (FXS), the most common inherited form of intellectual disability. FXS occurs in an array of forms, ranging from mild learning disabilities to more severe intellectual and developmental disabilities. It is the most common known cause of autism or autistic-like behaviors.

Scientists are now beginning to get a handle on the changes that happen to cells and molecules in the body because of a mutation in the Fragile X Mental Retardation 1 gene. That gene contains instructions for making a key protein vital for nerve function in the brain, and does not work properly in FXS.

With a better understanding of the biological effects of the mutation, the scientists say that treatments for FXS and similar disorders now seem possible. In addition, several drugs tested in humans seem promising.

"In conclusion, the recent clinical introduction of multiple compounds representing a variety of mechanistic approaches to the disorder represents an exciting opportunity to realize the mission of implementing effective treatments of ID," say the researchers.

del.icio.us	Digg	Reddit
YahooMyWeb	Google	Facebook

Malaysia probes rural town after deadly landslide UN atomic watchdog experts arrive in Japan UN launches study of Japan's nuclear disaster: Ban Erratic information fuels mistrust of TEPCO Japanese protest revised school radiation limit Better buildings for extreme climates will be focus of researcher talk Radiation protection expert criticizes comparison of Fukushima to Chernobyl Karlsruhe Invisibility Cloak: Disappearing Visibly Beijing admits Three Gorges Dam problems Sea levels set to rise by up to a metre: report Developing solutions for water problems in Ethiopia LSU Researchers Study Methods to Use River Sediment to Repair the Coast Research aircraft Polar 5 returned from spring measurements in the high Arctic Denmark plans claim to North Pole seabed: foreign minister Ecological impact on Canada's Arctic coastline linked to climate change Canada PM's Arctic stand 'frosty rhetoric' Nottingham scientists reveal genetic 'wiring' of seeds Livestock also suffer traffic accidents during transport Patterns Of Ancient Croplands Give Insight Into Early Hawaiian Society New method of unreeling cocoons could extend silk industry beyond Asia Village gasps for air from ashy shadow of Iceland volcano British Airways cancels flights due to ash cloud Iceland volcano still spewing ash, Europe threatened Volcano ash forces Obama to leave Ireland early Gambia jails ex army, navy chiefs for treason Indian drug firms use S.Africa as launch pad to continent British PM rejects pressure on aid budget Sudan stages new Darfur air strikes: UN Standing up to fight Most common form of inherited intellectual disability may be treatable The roots of memory impairment resulting from sleep deprivation Clubbers can smell a good nightspot