New Hope for Down's Syndrome

As of now, there is no definite cure for patients with Down's Syndrome, but according to research (conducted on mice) from the National Institute of Health in Bethesda, Maryland, there could be a way to ease the symptoms and problems associated with the disease.
Some of the major issues that develop in Down's Syndrome patients are higher heart rate, developmental problems, and learning disabilities. These difficulties are thought to be caused by a low production of two proteins: NAP and SAL; this activity stems from a defect in a certain type of brain cell caused by the inherited extra chromosome. Knowing this, scientists injected these proteins into mice pregnant with pups having an extra copy of a segment of one of their chromosomes. As seen in babies with Down's, the pups inside the womb (before the protein injection) were seen to develop more slowly than normal pups. However, after birth, the pups, now with altered levels of the key proteins, reached their "developmental milestones" at the same rate as normal mice, and the level of another typically under-produced protein was normal. Researchers are now observing later development of these mice to see if the effects of this treatment are long-lasting (or even permanent).
If this kind of early developmental treatment proves to be feasible for humans, it would have a great impact on people with Down's Syndrome. With more and more children being born with this disease (parents are encouraged by the increasing life expectancy for Down's children), halting the major problems that come with it would improve their overall quality of life.
Since this research has only been conducted on mice, there is no certainty that it will be effective on humans.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7749883.stm
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/medical_notes/1254702.stm