Compose, the research study based at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) hopes to increase language, learning and memory in people with Down syndrome through a medicine being tested around Australia.
Professor Rhoshel Lenroot who is leading the study says the medicine they are testing is a compound called BTD-001.
It was originally used to treat senile dementia and respiratory problems until regulation changes in the 1980s deemed it too expensive to test until now.
“Studies have shown this compound interacts with specific receptors in the brain and can activate non-performing connections,” says Professor Lenroot.
“It is these non-performing connections in people with Down syndrome that inhabits their cognitive function.”
Professor Lenroot said parents of people with Down syndrome prompted the study in the hope to improve their children’s quality of life.
But NeuRA is still seeking more people with Down syndrome aged 13 to 35 to participate in the study.
Sui Watts, 21, is an international equestrian and dressage competitor with Down syndrome who is taking part in the study.
Watts takes the medicine twice a day and is reviewed by doctors and researchers regularly in Sydney.
This means travelling hours from her home in rural NSW, Taree, but for her and her family, it’s worth it.
“If it’s successful and the medicine is made available, it would mean Sui could be more independent, better understood and play a bigger part in the local community,” says Sui’s mum, Janett Watts.
There are so many other parents in the community just like Janett, who encourage their children with Down Syndrome to engage in the community.
One of those is Catia Malaquias. Her son, Julius is a common fixture in advertising campaigns for the children’s fashion brand, eeni meeni miini moh.
She said her son like every other person with Down Syndrome deserves “to belong, to grow up within their family, attend regular school, access high quality health care, live in the community, get a job and live their lives to the fullest.”
And a medical breakthrough like this would only further improve their opportunities.
To find out more about the study visit www.compose21.com, call 1300 659 729 or email [email protected].
