Mental retardation in Down syndrome: a hydrogen sulfide hpothesis

Authors
Kamoun, P
Citation
P. Kamoun, Mental retardation in Down syndrome: a hydrogen sulfide hpothesis, MED HYPOTH, 57(3), 2001, pp. 389-392
Citations number
33
Categorie Soggetti
Research/Laboratory Medicine & Medical Tecnology","Medical Research General Topics
Journal title
MEDICAL HYPOTHESES
ISSN journal
03069877 → ACNP
Volume
57
Issue
3
Year of publication
2001
Pages
389 - 392
Database
ISI
SICI code
0306-9877(200109)57:3<389:MRIDSA>2.0.ZU;2-Y
Abstract
Mental retardation is progressive in Down syndrome: individuals are born wi th normal intelligence which starts to decline linearly within the first ye ar. This phenomenon can be observed with phenylalanine in patients with phe nylketonuria, therefore it is compatible with metabolic intoxication. The t oxic compound could be hydrogen sulfide. The amount of the compound is prob ably increased in Down syndrome by increasing active cystathionine beta syn thase. This heuristic hypothesis requires further investigation. (C) 2001 H arcourt Publishers Ltd.