Researchers reverse Down Syndrome in miceThursday 05 September 2013 16.13
Researchers in the United States say they have found a way to reverse Down Syndrome in newborn mice with a single injection.
Writing in the Science Translational Medicine journal, the team at Johns Hopkins University said that by injecting an experimental compound into genetically engineered mice they were able to prompt the brain to develop normally.
Down Syndrome is caused by the presence of an additional chromosome.
The scientists said their discovery might lead to new treatments for humans.
However, adjusting the treatment for human use would be complicated, as altering the growth of the brain could lead to unintended consequences, such as triggering cancer.