More great news for kids with Down syndrome

Public Clinical Trials of new Down syndrome drug

The overwhelming majority of adults over 50 with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer's disease. So, doctors believe, drugs that help against Alzheimer's in older patients with DS might help improve mental acuity in younger patients.

Several small trials with drugs like Aricept and Exelon, already approved by the FDA for treating Alzheimer's, appear to increase skill levels if administered long-term to children with Down syndrome.

A nationwide study is beginning, looking for kids between the age of 6 and 17 who have Down syndrome and can see, hear, communicate, and walk.

For information, call 234-2566, ext. 36, or go to www.downsyndromestudy.com.

This is the best news for families of these kids since Trig Palin entered the limelight, raising awareness that these are lovable kids to be welcomed, not diseased entities to be packed off to the pathology lab.