Scientists Identify Trigger for Fragile X Syndrome
NYSCF – Druckenmiller Fellow Dilek Colak was the lead author on a study uncovering a genetic trigger for the most common form of intellectual disability and autism. Published in Science, the Weill Cornell study describes the identification of a mechanism that shuts off a gene associated with Fragile X syndrome. Additionally, the scientists showed that a drug blocking this silencing mechanism could prevent the disease from developing, suggesting a potential therapeutic treatment for all related Fragile X disorders including but not limited to mental retardation and multisystem failure.