Dr. Joaquín Espinosa, Associate Director, Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome (IMAGE)

Global Down Syndrome Foundation

Dr. Joaquín Espinosa, Associate Director, Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome

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Renowned Crnic Institute scientist, Dr. Espinosa, has found that the interferon response is constantly activated in people with Down syndrome causing the body to fight a viral infection even when such infection does not exist. Such constant activation of the immune system would likely cause many damaging side-effects and may explain cognitive deficit, increased prevalence of autoimmune disorders, higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and protection against solid tumors. Testing FDA-approved drugs that block the interferon response could be an important next step.

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Global Down Syndrome Foundation

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Credit: Global Down Syndrome Foundation

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