Cathy Woodgold wrote:
> It's my understanding that the main problem with Downe's Syndrome
> is too much SOD, therefore too much of the free radicals that are
> created by SOD when breaking down other free radicals.
That certainly has been the common view, and I believe it still is.
> Might it be feasible to treat Downe's Syndrome by putting more of the
> latter type of enzyme into the person, perhaps by daily injections?
> (Or by consuming the nutrients needed for that enzyme (selenium??))
Some studies have been done on this -- a search in Medline using the
string "down's syndrome catalase" works quite well. I don't know any
more, but I also found a reference (Int J Dev Biol 1989;33(1):183-188)
which notes that glutathione peroxidase (the other hydrogen peroxide
destroying enzyme) is not upregulated in response. The abstract doesn't
give any theory why not, though.
> If we can find effective treatments for Downe's Syndrome, it
> might help us find anti-ageing treatments for everyone.
Quite possibly. I will look up the above paper and others and maybe
post something more illuminating in due course. Thanks for the idea.
Aubrey de Grey
