intellectual disability

Scientists, led in part by Washington University’s Vitaly Klyachko, PhD, have gained new insight into fragile X syndrome — the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability — by studying the case of a person without the disorder, but with two of its classic symptoms.

An odd feature of nerve cells may be linked to several forms of inherited intellectual disability, Azad Bonni, MD, PhD, (pictured) and other School of Medicine researchers have learned. Further research eventually may help in the development of drugs to treat intellectual disability.

A rare, inherited form of mental retardation has led scientists at the School of Medicine to three important “travel agents” at work in the developing brain. The agents make it possible for brain neurons to travel from where they are born to other brain regions where they will permanently reside.