Update on this meeting:    Memory research

In a few months we will need families to take part in a research project to test a new medicine that have shown great promise in animal studies where they achieved the major objective to improve memory.  These were the Ts65dn mouse models for trisomy 21 in humans. In those studies the animals had poor memory and could not remember how to get through a maze.  With this new medicine their memory was so improved their performance in memory training tests was the same as a normal mouse. This is pretty amazing and exactly what we might hope to happen. These are medicines like those being developed for dementia and Alzheimer's.

Animal studies always take place before human trials to detect medicines that work and which have no bad side effects. Safety is a huge concern of course and this is the way all new medicines are developed and tested. Before we can even proceed with a study and get it funded we need to know there are parents who will take part and volunteer on behalf of their children.  The age for taking part in these studies will be decided when we see who is volunteering and the ages of their children.  Probably starting with older children who have good verbal skills and with young adults.  Sign up now.  It helps us to get funding if we have parents wanting to be part of the research project.

UK research will be based in London.  To get on this list:   Email:  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

International Meeting --  Down Syndrome Cognition Research.

Royal Society of Medicine - 1 Wimpole Street, London, England

Note:  This very successful meetings was held  Thursday July 29th,  2010

Paul and Patty Watson and the DSRF-UK  will co-sponsor an International meeting at the Royal Society of Medicine to discuss Down Syndrome Cognition Research. Leading brain researchers from the US, UK, France, and Switzerland will gather to discuss current Down Syndrome (DS) related brain research, opportunities for collaborative projects, and expanding DS research into related fields.  The meeting will formally address the development of protocol for joint international projects which will be able to access private and public funding for research.  The focus is on research that will translate from the lab to drug development.  Representatives of 4 major Down Syndrome research charities will also participate in the meetings.

Attendees hope to speed the pace of development of human treatments based on the strong existing research in the areas of brain lipids, DS neurochemistry, and successes in improving mental performance in mouse models of Down Syndrome.  "We believe that in the next 5 to 10 years, we will be able to improve the memory, learning, and speech capacity of people with Down Syndrome so that success in school, independent living, and real employment will be the new expectation for them," said Patty Watson, a Bank of America associate and fundraiser, who has a child with DS.  "We owe it to people with DS that we seek these advances in the same way we seek advances in treating other medical conditions such as Alzheimer's," continued Patty.

Patty Watson is a board member of Lime Connect, a foundation whose mission is to unlock economic potential through the increased employment of people with disabilities.  Patty relates  "I welcome this opportunity to seek a more promising future for those with Down Syndrome."

For more information about this meeting, please email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Information on our research history click on the "About Us" tab at the top right of this Home page.

Want more research?  How about a donation to support a Marathon Runner ?

CLICK on this link -  http://www.justgiving.com/Edyta-Wierzbowska These are real people making a great effort to help our children. They deserve your support. and encouragement.  You can do a fundraiser the same way or with some new idea.  There are ideas on our website and you can make your page on Just Giving.

We have great needs and responsibilities - but hardly any income

Children smile to get your approval and your love,  thats especially true when the child has Down's syndrome . They never get beyond the normal mental abilities of between 5 and 13,  (average is age 8).  They have to learn to be very patient and long suffering. Parents can find this endearing but its not much fun to be set apart as an adult and deprived of much that life has to offer.  Imagine if you looked like an adult but your mental abilities were like a child.  I think we would all want a medicine to become normal. Every one of their genes are our genes, even the extra genes are our genes.  but a few of those genes are causing lots of problems in addition to the mental handicap.   Lives are shorter by 15 to 20 years.  20X higher risk of Leukemia and 20X higher risk of Alzheimer's.   Our research targets these problems.  Its very expensive and we get hardly any income but we are making great progress.

INCOME:  Animal charities raise 1000x more income. We should care a lot more for the needs of OUR children but donations tell a different story.  You can change that situation with your donations.   We have no paid employees,  no expensive adverts on TV,  no expensive offices.  100% of your donation will be used to get research underway,  not to make us rich.

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