What are the treatments for Down syndrome?
No treatment is available to cure Down syndrome. Treatment is directed at addressing the individual concerns of a particular patient. For example, heart defects will many times require surgical repair, as will duodenal atresia. Many Down syndrome patients will need to wear glasses to correct vision. Patients with hearing impairment benefit from hearing aids. A drug known as piracetam received some attention in the treatment of Down syndrome patients in the mid-1990s. Piracetam is a so-called “smart drug” that is marketed in Europe and Japan to normal adults hoping to increase their cognitive abilities. It is also sold to skiers and mountain climbers as a remedy for loss of concentration at high altitudes. Although some European researchers have studied piracetam as a possible treatment for dementia in Alzheimer’s disease, none of these trials have shown as of 2004 that the drug is of any benefit to Alzheimer’s patients. Piracetam is not approved for use in the United States; several la
