title: The effect of acetyl-L-carnitine administration on persons with Down syndrome.
abstract: Since previous investigations reported improvements in cognition of patients with dementia after acetyl-L-carnitine therapy and since there is an increased risk for persons with Down syndrome to develop Alzheimer disease, this study was designed to investigate the effect of acetyl-L-carnitine administration on neurological, intellectual, and social functions in adults with Down syndrome. In this double-blind study we enrolled 40 individuals with Down syndrome and administered acetyl-L-carnitine to the study group during a six months period. Specified examinations and psychological tests were given to persons in both the study and control groups at the start of the investigation and at 3, 6, and 9 months. A detailed analysis of the data revealed that acetyl-L-carnitine administration did not enhance central nervous system functions and that it did not benefit persons with Down syndrome.
authors.affiliation: Child Development Center, Department of Pediatrics, Rhode Island Hospital, Brown University School of Medicine, Providence, RI, USA. sigpueschel@aol.com
authors.forename: Siegfried M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Pueschel
mesh_terms: D000108:Acetylcarnitine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D000328:Adult; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D001288:Attention / Q000187:drug effects; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007361:Intelligence Tests; D008297:Male; D018697:Nootropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D012919:Social Behavior; D017211:Treatment Failure; D014888:Wechsler Scales
chemical_list: D018697:Nootropic Agents; D000108:Acetylcarnitine