Clinicians, scientists and Down syndrome groups across the world have today issued a statement about the use of a protocol that is claimed to improve intelligence and behaviour for people with Down syndrome.

This protocol is being widely discussed online and promoted through a film being sold on DVD and screened in locations in the US. It is promoted by a group called the Changing Minds Foundation. It includes drugs approved for use in the treatment of depression and attention deficit and hyperactivity disorder. The claims for the protocol are based on studies of mice that carry additional copies of some of the genes thought to function similarly to those carried on human chromosome 21, and case studies presented in the promotional DVD.

The statement provides information about the protocol for families and healthcare professionals seeking to evaluate these claims. The statement concludes that there is no reliable evidence of benefit and no clear evidence of safety to support the use of this protocol.

Over 20 clinicians and scientists and 15 organisations have publicly endorsed the statement, offering a clear indication of the wide consensus cautioning families about the risks of the unproven therapy.

"We are pleased to have contributed to a wide collaborative effort to produce clear, robust and credible guidance about this potentially dangerous protocol," commented Frank Buckley, CEO of DownsEd International and DownsEd USA. Both organisations have endorsed the statement. He added, "Claims about unproven therapies now spread remarkably quickly. They can quickly create concerns for families around the world. The Down syndrome community has shown that it can respond very effectively, with regional, national and international organisations working together with healthcare professionals and scientists to prepare this statement."

The statement can be read in full online:

The use of Ginkgo, Prozac and Focalin as a "treatment" for Down syndrome
http://www.down-syndrome.org/statements/2106/