New Hope for Kids with Fragile X
Filed by Michael Cross in Feature, Health, Local News, News.
October 26, 2011
Researchers at Children’s Hospital in Oklahoma City are looking for men and boys with a rare genetic disease known as Fragile X for a new treatment program.
Seven-year-old Colin seems like a normal kid, but he actually has Fragile X the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability in the United States.
His mother, Jessica Dickerson, says Collin was late crawling, walking and talking as well as difficulty with social withdrawal and interaction much like autism.
She finally had a genetic test confirm Fragile X when he was three.
Although she knew why he was having problems, there was no cure.
“It was bittersweet because there was a name and now I know I’m not crazy, there really is something going on, but then great now my son’s mentally retarded.”
Physicians at Children’s Hospital are hoping to change that with the phase three trial of a drug which could prevent ongoing brain damage.
Lead Investigator Doctor Thomas Lock says it will also help with the social anxiety children like Colin feel.
“The idea is there are certain parts of the brain that are over stimulated and this inhibitory medication will decrease that over stimulation.”
Doctor Lock is looking for ten boys ages 5 to 12 and ten between the ages of 12 and 21.
He says they must be diagnosed with Fragile X and have difficulty in social situations.
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