Monash University trial to test if cough mixture ingredient could help Down syndrome

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Source: Austrailian Broadcasting Co.

The Monash University trial hopes to improve memory, language and learning in people with Down syndrome, but if it's successful, it could be used to fight dementia.

The director of the Centre of Developmental Disability Health Victoria, Associate Professor Bob Davis, said preliminary overseas research found the ingredient known as BTD-001 showed promise in improving the efficiency of nerve conduction in the brain.

"This is the first human trial to see whether it is going to improve the quality of life of people with Down syndrome," he said.

Associate Prof Davis said the ingredient was commonly used from 1920-1980 as a respiratory stimulant to help take people with polio off respirators and to treat the symptoms of dementia.



Read more: http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-03-26/cough-syrup-could-help-people-with-down-syndrome/4595598

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This is just mesmerizing to me. Amazing to me if this can work to improve the quality of life. This could have such an impact on things like school inclusion if it improves the ability of individuals with down syndrome to communicate. I hope this works out!


ETA: I originally had a link to the Herald Sun but it requires a log on.

[mainer]

1. What about people without Down syndrome?

Can't seem to sign into the site. If this works to help symptoms of dementia in Down's syndrome patients, I wonder about its usefulness in non-Down's patients with Alzheimer's.

[d_r]

2. sorry I didn't know about the log on

thank you for telling me that, I changed the link.

It says that the cough syrup has been prescribed before for people with Alzheimer's. I do not know the effectiveness. It seems to stimulate nerve conductivity.

ETA I tried searching google but really only found variations of this story