PROTEIN DEFICIENCY LINKED TO COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENT IN DOWN’S SYNDROME

Researchers believe they have identified one of the causes of developmental and cognitive impairment in people with Down’s syndrome: a lack of the protein SNX27 in their brains. When a deficiency of this brain protein was produced in mice, the animals exhibited learning andmemory impairments. By reintroducing this protein, researchers were able to restore normal brain function in the lab mice. It is possible that increasing SNX27 production or function in the brains of people with Down’s syndrome could lead to similar improvements. More… Discuss