Medicine Found In Cough Syrup Believed To Help Patients With Down Syndrome

Researchers from Monash University in Australia have begun a clinical trial to determine if an ingredient found in cough syrup can help improve the cognitive functions of down syndrome patients.

Know to scientists as BTD-001, this type of medicine is usually found in cough syrup. BTD-001 has already been used to treat older patients suffering from dementia. According to the scientists at Monash University, the patients with dementia responded well to the cough syrup treatment. They are hopeful down syndrome patients will respond well too.

The study says that the cognitive issues those with dementia suffer are similar to the same issues those with down syndrome suffer. This gives researchers hope the cough syrup medicine will help those with down syndrome function on a higher level.

The clinical trial will focus on children and teens. The goal is to see how well the down syndrome patients can handle the BTD-001. The researchers hope the cough syrup will help those with down syndrome to improve their memory, language skills, reaction time and their ability to carry out daily routines.

Down Syndrome is a chromosomal disorder that is the result of an error in cell division. The error leaves the body with an extra chromosome. The effects of the extra chromosome can range from mild to severe. A person with down syndrome can have problems with their speech and cognitive abilities.

Those with down syndrome have distinguishing physical characteristics. Medical News Today lists them as, low muscle tone, small stature, short neck, flat nasal bridge, protruding tongue and eyes that have an upward slant and white spots on the iris.

Not all people who have down syndrome suffer from the more debilitating aspects of the disease. Andrea Fay Friedman is a 42-year-old actress with down syndrome.

Her roles include guest spots on Law and Order: SVU and Family Guy. In 1992 Friedman starred for 2 seasons on the TV show Life Goes On. Currently, Friedman is working in the accounting department of a law firm. She also sometimes works for a program at UCLA where she teaches students how to live on their own.

The clinical trial testing the results of a cough syrup ingredient on those with down syndrome is still taking volunteers.