This is a real hope for people with trisomy 21 and their families. A new therapy, which consists of injecting a hormone into patients, has significantly improved some of their cognitive functions, reveals a study published Thursday in the journal Science and conducted at the University Hospital of Lausanne, Switzerland, by Inserm researchers within from the “Lille Neuroscience and Cognition” laboratory.
A son who no longer gets lost on the way to work
This study demonstrates that the injection of a hormone in patients with trisomy 21 improves their cognitive functions by 20 to 30%, details franceinfo. The tests carried out on seven patients with this genetic anomaly showed a real benefit at the end of the treatment : a better understanding of instructions, more landmarks in spacea improved attention and memory. A mother testified that her son with Down syndrome no longer got lost on the way to work.
A hormone injection every two hours
For six months, these men between the ages of 20 and 50 received a hormone injection every two hours thanks to a pump installed on their arm, like those used by diabetics. This hormone, GnRH, is naturally secreted by the body except in carriers of trisomy 21.
The researchers had initially proven, using mice, that this dysfunction impaired their cognitive faculties and that by restoring the hormone, these functions were improved by 20 to 30%. “In trisomy 21, GnRH therapy is promising, especially since it is an existing treatment and without significant side effects”, underlines Nelly Pitteloud, researcher, at the microphone of franceinfo.
A larger study in the coming weeks
Scientists must confirm these results by conducting a larger study this fall on around sixty volunteers, men and women. Trisomy 21 affects about one in 800 births. It is reflected in particular by a decline in cognitive abilities. As they age, 77% of people with trisomy 21 experience symptoms similar to those of Alzheimer’s disease.