DURHAM, N.C., Sept. 29 (UPI) -- U.S. researchers said a drug already approved for treating Alzheimer's disease might also boost expressive language skills in children with Down syndrome.
Researchers at Duke University Medical Center said language improvements stemming from the drug known as donepezil hydrochloride potentially could help improve learning in children with the condition.
In a 22-week trial, seven children with Down syndrome between ages 8 and 13 took the drug for 16 weeks. The children showed improvements in their ability to communicate thoughts and feelings, the Duke team reported.
The promising results warrant further research, but the team urged caution because the study was not conducted as a double-blind trial, in which the researchers and the patients' families could not know if their child was receiving the drug.
The team said they do not recommend prescribing the drug to children with Down syndrome until more rigorous studies are done.
Down syndrome affects one in every 800 live births and is the most common genetic cause of mental retardation worldwide.
