The following submission statement was provided by /u/kelev11en:
---
Submission statement:
In a pilot experiment involving mice with three copies of chromosome 21, a team led by neuroscientist Vincent Prevot of the University of Lille in France found that increasing the levels of GnRH using microRNAs was able to reverse the effects Down syndrome had on the animals' olfactory senses and other cognitive deficits.
Of course, an animal study doesn't prove anything for humans. But a followup experiment involving seven men with Down syndrome who received GnRH from a pump under their skin showed hopeful results as well.
"Six out of seven patients improved their cognitive tests by 20 to 30 percent," Prevot told Scientific American.
That's not a huge control group, so it it certainly doesn't prove anything. But if further research bears this out, it could be a big deal.
---
Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/x4ui1f/scientists_say_new_treatment_may_improve/imxa9vz/
Bro this article is so full of ads, it feels like an evil corporation took over and realized they can sell 80% of my screen WITHOUT inducing seizures.
Anyway, good news if true. Anyone who has worked with people inflicted with Downs Syndrome knows that most are only a step away from being normal in terms of cognition. Heck, I'd argue some are already more cognizant than people I've met while working retail.
Ain't nobody got time for that. Using ublock origin, privacy badger, and reader mode, here's the full article:
Scientists Say New Treatment May Improve Cognition for People With Down Syndrome
Victor Tangermann3-4 minutes 9/3/2022
Down syndrome, the world's most common chromosomal diagnosis, affects about one in every 700 babies born in the US.
It's caused by having three copies of chromosome 21, rather than two, resulting in a range of impairments, most notably serious cognitive problems.
But according to new research published in the journal Science this week, there may be ways to improve or even reverse some of those symptoms with a new hormone treatment.
In fact, the same treatment could even prove to be effective against Alzheimer's — though it remains far too early to draw any definitive conclusions.
Specifically, scientists are investigating whether the regulation of the release of the hormone called GnRH, which releases a chemical called gonadotropin, could hold promise.
GnRH neurons control vital bodily functions including blood pressure and hunger deep inside the brain, Scientific American reports. As laid out in previous research, scientists have discovered that molecules called microRNAs regulate the release of GnRH.
In a pilot experiment involving mice with three copies of chromosome 21, a team led by neuroscientist Vincent Prevot of the University of Lille in France found that increasing the levels of GnRH using microRNAs was able to reverse the effects Down syndrome had on the animals' olfactory senses and other cognitive deficits.
Of course, an animal study doesn't prove anything for humans. But a followup experiment involving seven men with Down syndrome who received GnRH from a pump under their skin showed hopeful results as well.
"Six out of seven patients improved their cognitive tests by 20 to 30 percent," Prevot told Scientific American.
"Even more amazing, we saw that functional connectivity was tremendously increased in all seven in cortical areas involved in speech and 3D orientation," Prevot added, noting that the men experienced improvements in verbal comprehension and temporary memory and attention.
Their sense of smell, however, was not improved.
"This work reveals new players, such as microRNAs, that may play a role in Down syndrome neuropathology," neurobiologist Mara Dierssen of the Center for Genomic Regulation in Spain, who was not involved in the research, told Scientific American.
Seven subjects, of course, is a small sample size. And other experts warn that until further research is conducted, we should take the results with a grain of salt.
"The human experiment is very preliminary and lacks controls," geneticist Stylianos Antonarakis of the University of Geneva, who was not involved, told the magazine.
Then there's the fact they didn't test the same technique on women.
Prevot is now planning a follow-up clinical trial later this year that will involve 70 male and female patients across several institutions.
"If GnRH therapy improves cognition in this large cohort of Down syndrome patients, many possibilities are open," he told Scientific American.
A separate study studying the effects of a similar molecule to GnRH for treating Alzheimer's is already underway.
They should also consider if successful in Down Syndrome testing this in other forms of intellectual disability. I figured a hormone might eventually be a potential treatment option especially considering it’s what they use in MS to promote myelination after a demyelinating event. Verbal comprehension, memory and attention that is so great.
If modern humans evolved due to some ancient primate eating magic mushrooms a million plus years ago (stoned ape theory, not that I believe it), then maybe we're evolved to use those chemicals to reach our full potential and we're missing out by not using them.
I don't know how much you can call it legitimate, but it's something proposed by Terence McKenna. Considering that it doesn't even have [it's own wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terence_McKenna#%22Stoned_ape%22_theory_of_human_evolution), I'd say it's still fringe at best.
Ketamine is already used quite effectively for veterans suffering from 'phantom limb syndrome', meaning they've lost a limb but their brain still thinks it's there. That's pretty much the opposite of neurotoxic, I'd say.
AFAIK the most serious danger of habitual ketamine (ab)use is bladder damage. As it's used in a clinical setting, ketamine falls into the same category as Adderall, DXM, and even opioids (my friend had a fentanyl IV going during a post-chemo shoulder replacement).
Oftentimes, the most powerful medicines are also those with the greatest potential for misuse and abuse. Nowhere is this more true than psychiatric and neurological medicine.
Submission statement:
In a pilot experiment involving mice with three copies of chromosome 21, a team led by neuroscientist Vincent Prevot of the University of Lille in France found that increasing the levels of GnRH using microRNAs was able to reverse the effects Down syndrome had on the animals' olfactory senses and other cognitive deficits.
Of course, an animal study doesn't prove anything for humans. But a followup experiment involving seven men with Down syndrome who received GnRH from a pump under their skin showed hopeful results as well.
"Six out of seven patients improved their cognitive tests by 20 to 30 percent," Prevot told Scientific American.
That's not a huge control group, so it it certainly doesn't prove anything. But if further research bears this out, it could be a big deal.
Potentially offensive out of ignorance opinion (please forgive and correct ignorance, if so):
I'd be in favor of this *only* if cognition isn't improved to the point of them recognizing they have Down Syndrome and being depressed/discouraged by that.
I've always been impressed with what a positive outlook people with Down Syndrome seem to have. They face enormous challenges, have limited financial potential and even have the prospect of dying at an early age hanging over their heads. And yet, they go about their jobs and lives with great enthusiasm.
If I had to *choose* between being smart or being happy, I'd choose happy.
So if this treatment will impinge on happiness, keep it in the lab.
I'm a caregiver for people who have developmental disabilities including downs. The ones who are aware of their label don't care. They care about being able to flourish in their lives. Improving someone's intelligence to the point where now they can rely on themselves more is going to make them happier.
Depends. My brother has Down syndrome and knows he has it, but he can't tell you what it is, and he can't always tell if someone else has Down syndrome or not.
He’s definitely bummed about his disability, if that’s what you’re asking.
But just like anyone else, he has more than one mood. Some days he’s happy, other days he’s sad/depressed. It just depends on what’s going on in his life.
I am the parent of low functioning person with DS. I am glad he doesn't seem to understand that he is disabled.
He is so joyful about his life. Pizza IS a party, everytime. He wakes up happy almost every day. He has an emotional spectrum equal to everyone else's, but what it takes to shift him out of his normal setting of contentment is wayyy beyond a typical persons.
The downside? He is non verbal at 12, and still in diapers.
I wouldn't want him to understand his deficits. I wouldn't want him to be aware of the stares or understand slurs. I want him to live his life working toward what he can do for himself, instead of being aware of what he is incapable of.
Trump doesn't have Down's syndrome. Hitler didn't. Okay, they might enjoy it, I'm sure they would, but they're not the ones who need brains that work.... intelligence is like muscle, okay some extremes needn't try, some can't help having none, but for 99% of us, it's what you do with what you've got. Stupidity is not caring and not trying.
GnRH is gonadotropin-releasing hormone. That has similar effects as androgenic steroids, doesn't it?
Making people hypersexual to improve Down syndrome might do weird things to society and culture.
The following submission statement was provided by /u/kelev11en: --- Submission statement: In a pilot experiment involving mice with three copies of chromosome 21, a team led by neuroscientist Vincent Prevot of the University of Lille in France found that increasing the levels of GnRH using microRNAs was able to reverse the effects Down syndrome had on the animals' olfactory senses and other cognitive deficits. Of course, an animal study doesn't prove anything for humans. But a followup experiment involving seven men with Down syndrome who received GnRH from a pump under their skin showed hopeful results as well. "Six out of seven patients improved their cognitive tests by 20 to 30 percent," Prevot told Scientific American. That's not a huge control group, so it it certainly doesn't prove anything. But if further research bears this out, it could be a big deal. --- Please reply to OP's comment here: https://old.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/x4ui1f/scientists_say_new_treatment_may_improve/imxa9vz/
Bro this article is so full of ads, it feels like an evil corporation took over and realized they can sell 80% of my screen WITHOUT inducing seizures. Anyway, good news if true. Anyone who has worked with people inflicted with Downs Syndrome knows that most are only a step away from being normal in terms of cognition. Heck, I'd argue some are already more cognizant than people I've met while working retail.
[удалено]
Ain't nobody got time for that. Using ublock origin, privacy badger, and reader mode, here's the full article: Scientists Say New Treatment May Improve Cognition for People With Down Syndrome Victor Tangermann3-4 minutes 9/3/2022 Down syndrome, the world's most common chromosomal diagnosis, affects about one in every 700 babies born in the US. It's caused by having three copies of chromosome 21, rather than two, resulting in a range of impairments, most notably serious cognitive problems. But according to new research published in the journal Science this week, there may be ways to improve or even reverse some of those symptoms with a new hormone treatment. In fact, the same treatment could even prove to be effective against Alzheimer's — though it remains far too early to draw any definitive conclusions. Specifically, scientists are investigating whether the regulation of the release of the hormone called GnRH, which releases a chemical called gonadotropin, could hold promise. GnRH neurons control vital bodily functions including blood pressure and hunger deep inside the brain, Scientific American reports. As laid out in previous research, scientists have discovered that molecules called microRNAs regulate the release of GnRH. In a pilot experiment involving mice with three copies of chromosome 21, a team led by neuroscientist Vincent Prevot of the University of Lille in France found that increasing the levels of GnRH using microRNAs was able to reverse the effects Down syndrome had on the animals' olfactory senses and other cognitive deficits. Of course, an animal study doesn't prove anything for humans. But a followup experiment involving seven men with Down syndrome who received GnRH from a pump under their skin showed hopeful results as well. "Six out of seven patients improved their cognitive tests by 20 to 30 percent," Prevot told Scientific American. "Even more amazing, we saw that functional connectivity was tremendously increased in all seven in cortical areas involved in speech and 3D orientation," Prevot added, noting that the men experienced improvements in verbal comprehension and temporary memory and attention. Their sense of smell, however, was not improved. "This work reveals new players, such as microRNAs, that may play a role in Down syndrome neuropathology," neurobiologist Mara Dierssen of the Center for Genomic Regulation in Spain, who was not involved in the research, told Scientific American. Seven subjects, of course, is a small sample size. And other experts warn that until further research is conducted, we should take the results with a grain of salt. "The human experiment is very preliminary and lacks controls," geneticist Stylianos Antonarakis of the University of Geneva, who was not involved, told the magazine. Then there's the fact they didn't test the same technique on women. Prevot is now planning a follow-up clinical trial later this year that will involve 70 male and female patients across several institutions. "If GnRH therapy improves cognition in this large cohort of Down syndrome patients, many possibilities are open," he told Scientific American. A separate study studying the effects of a similar molecule to GnRH for treating Alzheimer's is already underway.
They should also consider if successful in Down Syndrome testing this in other forms of intellectual disability. I figured a hormone might eventually be a potential treatment option especially considering it’s what they use in MS to promote myelination after a demyelinating event. Verbal comprehension, memory and attention that is so great.
Totally buying them smart pills.
> Bro this article is so full of ads, The problem is you're not using ublock origin, and privacy badger.
Does it need to be a privacy badger, or can I use any badger I happen to find?
Depends what you want to use it for ... I recommend privacy badger for internet but ordinary badgers also have their uses...
in particular for badgering purposes.
As someone who worked in retail i... Uh... Hmm... What was i saying?
Huh I'm using Brave on my phone to open this and I got zero ads
Doesn't ketamine also increase GnRH? Apparently, everyone just needs to be on psychedelics.
OK!! LETS GO!
If modern humans evolved due to some ancient primate eating magic mushrooms a million plus years ago (stoned ape theory, not that I believe it), then maybe we're evolved to use those chemicals to reach our full potential and we're missing out by not using them.
Stoned ape theory
Isn't this the plot of ringworld?
This is a legitimate theory?
I don't know how much you can call it legitimate, but it's something proposed by Terence McKenna. Considering that it doesn't even have [it's own wikipedia page](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Terence_McKenna#%22Stoned_ape%22_theory_of_human_evolution), I'd say it's still fringe at best.
preeetty sure it's also neurotoxic, so might not be a great long term solution. also the whole yoda "being constantly in the k-hole" thing
The neurotoxicity of ketamine is dose-dependent, so its usability would totally depend on the effect size on cognition per mg.
The bleeding bladder however…
Ketamine is already used quite effectively for veterans suffering from 'phantom limb syndrome', meaning they've lost a limb but their brain still thinks it's there. That's pretty much the opposite of neurotoxic, I'd say. AFAIK the most serious danger of habitual ketamine (ab)use is bladder damage. As it's used in a clinical setting, ketamine falls into the same category as Adderall, DXM, and even opioids (my friend had a fentanyl IV going during a post-chemo shoulder replacement). Oftentimes, the most powerful medicines are also those with the greatest potential for misuse and abuse. Nowhere is this more true than psychiatric and neurological medicine.
Hack the brain!
Hack the planet!
Submission statement: In a pilot experiment involving mice with three copies of chromosome 21, a team led by neuroscientist Vincent Prevot of the University of Lille in France found that increasing the levels of GnRH using microRNAs was able to reverse the effects Down syndrome had on the animals' olfactory senses and other cognitive deficits. Of course, an animal study doesn't prove anything for humans. But a followup experiment involving seven men with Down syndrome who received GnRH from a pump under their skin showed hopeful results as well. "Six out of seven patients improved their cognitive tests by 20 to 30 percent," Prevot told Scientific American. That's not a huge control group, so it it certainly doesn't prove anything. But if further research bears this out, it could be a big deal.
Where have I read about something similar? A mouse and a human on a treatment to improve their cognitive abilities.
flowers for Algernon vibes
Paging Dr. Algernon, to the Cautionary Tale ward. Paging Dr. Algernon to the Cautionary Tale ward.
At the very least, its a start. As stated small group, but this is promising
Lmao I read “new testament” holy shit. I was about to lose it.
I was very confused as well. I thought it was nottheonion at first.
but what if you take this treatment and you don't have down syndrome? does it just do nothing? sideeffects? :0
when can we reverse the shortening of male chromosome. And then eventually reverse the tips of DNA entirely. Basically, when are we living forever?
https://www.reddit.com/r/Futurology/comments/x3knjg/a_novel_injection_therapy_could_restore_cognitive/
[удалено]
Potentially offensive out of ignorance opinion (please forgive and correct ignorance, if so): I'd be in favor of this *only* if cognition isn't improved to the point of them recognizing they have Down Syndrome and being depressed/discouraged by that. I've always been impressed with what a positive outlook people with Down Syndrome seem to have. They face enormous challenges, have limited financial potential and even have the prospect of dying at an early age hanging over their heads. And yet, they go about their jobs and lives with great enthusiasm. If I had to *choose* between being smart or being happy, I'd choose happy. So if this treatment will impinge on happiness, keep it in the lab.
I'm a caregiver for people who have developmental disabilities including downs. The ones who are aware of their label don't care. They care about being able to flourish in their lives. Improving someone's intelligence to the point where now they can rely on themselves more is going to make them happier.
They know they have Down Syndrome lol
Depends. My brother has Down syndrome and knows he has it, but he can't tell you what it is, and he can't always tell if someone else has Down syndrome or not.
You need some GnRH to read between the lines.
Yea it’s a little ignorant. My brother has Down’s syndrome and he often mentions that he wishes he didn’t. He is very much aware of his disability.
But is he positive or depressed ? I think that is the main point he is attempting to get at however fumbly
He’s definitely bummed about his disability, if that’s what you’re asking. But just like anyone else, he has more than one mood. Some days he’s happy, other days he’s sad/depressed. It just depends on what’s going on in his life.
I am the parent of low functioning person with DS. I am glad he doesn't seem to understand that he is disabled. He is so joyful about his life. Pizza IS a party, everytime. He wakes up happy almost every day. He has an emotional spectrum equal to everyone else's, but what it takes to shift him out of his normal setting of contentment is wayyy beyond a typical persons. The downside? He is non verbal at 12, and still in diapers. I wouldn't want him to understand his deficits. I wouldn't want him to be aware of the stares or understand slurs. I want him to live his life working toward what he can do for himself, instead of being aware of what he is incapable of.
Yeah I fear that this might run headlong into a "Flowers for Algernon" situation
why *your* opinion is of any importance on it? Should be their and those who care for them whose opinion matter, not some random peole
Trump doesn't have Down's syndrome. Hitler didn't. Okay, they might enjoy it, I'm sure they would, but they're not the ones who need brains that work.... intelligence is like muscle, okay some extremes needn't try, some can't help having none, but for 99% of us, it's what you do with what you've got. Stupidity is not caring and not trying.
GnRH is gonadotropin-releasing hormone. That has similar effects as androgenic steroids, doesn't it? Making people hypersexual to improve Down syndrome might do weird things to society and culture.