New Targeted Treatments for Fragile X Syndrome

Fragile X syndrome and targeted treatment trials.

Work in recent years has revealed an abundance of possible new treatment targets for fragile X syndrome (FXS). The use of animal models, including the fragile X knockout mouse which manifests a phenotype very similar to FXS in humans, has resulted in great strides in this direction of research. The lack of Fragile X Mental Retardation Protein (FMRP) in FXS causes dysregulation and usually overe...

Systematic review of pharmacological treatments in fragile X syndrome

BACKGROUND Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is considered the most common cause of inherited mental retardation. Affected people have mental impairment that can include Attention Deficit and/or Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), autism disorder, and speech and behavioural disorders. Several pharmacological interventions have been proposed to treat those impairments. METHODS Systematic review of the liter...

New developments in the fragile X syndrome.

The Fragile X Family of Disorders: A Model for Autism and Targeted Treatments

CGG-repeat expansion mutations of the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene are the leading known cause of autism and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Full mutation expansions (>200 CGG repeats) of the gene are generally silenced, resulting in absence of the FMR1 protein and fragile X syndrome. By contrast, smaller expansions in the premutation range (55-200 CGG repeats) result in excess g...

The fragile X syndrome.

We have begun to appreciate that the extent of this disorder is much wider than merely mental retardation. It is also a common cause of learning and emotional problems in mildly affected female carriers with normal IQs. These children present an enormous challenge to all child-care providers, be they in medicine, education, or in various therapy disciplines. Early identification is essential, a...