Fragile X Syndrome

Science surprise: Toxic protein made in unusual way may explain brain disorder

A bizarre twist on the usual way proteins are made may explain mysterious symptoms in the grandparents of some children with mental disabilities.

Neuroscience created Apr 18, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Minocycline, an antibiotic, improves behavior for children with fragile X syndrome

Minocycline, an older, broad-spectrum antibiotic in the tetracycline family, provides meaningful improvements as a therapeutic for children with fragile X syndrome, a study by researchers at the UC Davis MIND Institute has ...

Pediatrics created Apr 08, 2013 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Fragile X makes brain cells talk too much, research shows

The most common inherited form of mental retardation and autism, fragile X syndrome, turns some brain cells into chatterboxes, scientists at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis report.

Neuroscience created Feb 20, 2013 | popularity 4.8 / 5 (4) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Neuroscientists find excessive protein synthesis linked to autistic-like behaviors

Autistic-like behaviors can be partially remedied by normalizing excessive levels of protein synthesis in the brain, a team of researchers has found in a study of laboratory mice. The findings, which appear in the latest ...

Autism spectrum disorders created Dec 23, 2012 | popularity 4.5 / 5 (8) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Genetic defect causing fragile X-related disorders more common than thought

A single genetic defect on the X chromosome that can result in a wide array of conditions—from learning and emotional difficulties to primary ovarian insufficiency in women and tremors in middle-aged men—occurs at a much ...

Genetics created Dec 20, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Fragile X protein linked to nearly 100 genes involved in autism

Doctors have known for many years that patients with fragile X syndrome, the most common form of inherited intellectual disability, are often also diagnosed with autism. But little has been known about how the two diagnoses ...

Genetics created Dec 12, 2012 | popularity 4 / 5 (4) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Next-generation treatments for Fragile X syndrome

A potential new therapeutic strategy for treating Fragile X syndrome is detailed in a new report appearing in the current issue of Biological Psychiatry, from researchers led by Dr. Lucia Ciranna at University of Catania in Ita ...

Psychology & Psychiatry created Nov 29, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Researchers identify genetic cause of MMPSI, rare infant epileptic disorder

A Yale-led team of researchers has identified the gene that, when mutated, causes a devastating early-onset disorder in babies known as "malignant migrating partial seizures of infants," or MMPSI. The study ...

Genetics created Oct 24, 2012 | popularity 4 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Boosting natural marijuana-like brain chemicals treats fragile X syndrome symptoms

American and European scientists have found that increasing natural marijuana-like chemicals in the brain can help correct behavioral issues related to fragile X syndrome, the most common known genetic cause of autism.

Autism spectrum disorders created Sep 25, 2012 | popularity 4.3 / 5 (4) | comments 1 | with audio podcast

Fragile X study offers new drug hope

(Medical Xpress)—An experimental drug can improve sociability in patients with fragile X syndrome and may be helpful as a treatment for autism, according to a study.

Autism spectrum disorders created Sep 24, 2012 | popularity 3 / 5 (1) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

New targeted drug for treating fragile X syndrome, potentially autism, is effective

An investigational compound that targets the core symptoms of fragile X syndrome is effective for addressing the social withdrawal and challenging behaviors characteristic of the condition, making it the first such discovery ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Sep 19, 2012 | popularity 4.7 / 5 (3) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Neuroscientists find promise in addressing Fragile X afflictions

Neuroscientists at New York University have devised a method that has reduced several afflictions associated with Fragile X syndrome (FXS) in laboratory mice. Their findings, which are reported in the journal Neuron, offer ...

Medical research created Sep 19, 2012 | popularity 3.5 / 5 (2) | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Early menopause in mice: A model of human POI

(Medical Xpress)—Scientists have established a genetic mouse model for primary ovarian insufficiency (POI), a human condition in which women experience irregular menstrual cycles and reduced fertility, ...

Genetics created Aug 30, 2012 | popularity not rated yet | comments 0 | with audio podcast

Fragile X and Down syndromes share signalling pathway for intellectual disability

Intellectual disability due to Fragile X and Down syndromes involves similar molecular pathways report researchers in The EMBO Journal. The two disorders share disturbances in the molecular events that regula ...

Genetics created Aug 03, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (1) | comments 0

Clinical trials aim to help boys with fragile X syndrome

In some ways, Samuel is like many other little boys. He likes swimming, riding in his grandfather's boat, and playing games on the family's Wii. His face lights up when he sees an image of Lightning McQueen from the ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes created Aug 02, 2012 | popularity 5 / 5 (2) | comments 0


Fragile X syndrome (FXS), Martin–Bell syndrome, or Escalante's syndrome (more commonly used in South American countries), is a genetic syndrome that is the most common known single-gene cause of autism and the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability. It results in a spectrum of intellectual disability ranging from mild to severe as well as physical characteristics such as an elongated face, large or protruding ears, and larger testes (macroorchidism), behavioral characteristics such as stereotypic movements (e.g. hand-flapping), and social anxiety.

Fragile X syndrome is associated with the expansion of the CGG trinucleotide repeat affecting the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene on the X chromosome, resulting in a failure to express the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP), which is required for normal neural development. Depending on the length of the CGG repeat, an allele may be classified as normal (unaffected by the syndrome), a premutation (at risk of fragile X associated disorders), or full mutation (usually affected by the syndrome). A definitive diagnosis of fragile X syndrome is made through genetic testing to determine the number of CGG repeats. Testing for premutation carriers can also be carried out to allow for genetic counselling.

There is currently no drug treatment that has shown benefit specifically for fragile X syndrome. However, medications are commonly used to treat symptoms of attention deficit and hyperactivity, anxiety, and aggression. Supportive management is important in optimising functioning in individuals with fragile X syndrome, and may involve speech therapy, occupational therapy, and individualised educational and behavioural programs.

J. Purdon Martin and Julia Bell in 1943, described a pedigree of X-linked mental disability, without considering the macroorchidism (larger testicles). In 1969 Herbert Lubs first sighted an unusual "marker X chromosome" in association with mental disability. In 1970 Frederick Hecht coined the term "fragile site".

This text uses material from Wikipedia and is available under the GNU Free Documentation License.

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