The effect of acetyl-l-carnitine administration on persons with Down syndrome

Abstract Since previous investigations reported improvements in cognition of patients with dementia after acetyl- l -carnitine therapy and since there is an increased risk for persons with Down syndrome to develop Alzheimer disease, this study was designed to investigate the effect of acetyl- l -carnitine administration on neurological, intellectual, and social functions in adults with Down syndrome. In this double-blind study we enrolled 40 individuals with Down syndrome and administered acetyl- l -carnitine to the study group during a six months period. Specified examinations and psychological tests were given to persons in both the study and control groups at the start of the investigation and at 3, 6, and 9 months. A detailed analysis of the data revealed that acetyl- l -carnitine administration did not enhance central nervous system functions and that it did not benefit persons with Down syndrome.