From Learning to Memory: What Flies Can Tell Us about Intellectual Disability Treatment.

ABSTRACT: Intellectual disability (ID), previously known as mental retardation, affects 3% of the population and remains without pharmacological treatment. ID is characterized by impaired general mental abilities associated with defects in adaptive function in which onset occurs before 18 years of age. Genetic factors are increasing and being recognized as the causes of severe ID due to increased use of genome-wide screening tools. Unfortunately drug discovery for treatment of ID has not followed the same pace as gene discovery, leaving clinicians, patients, and families without the ability to ameliorate symptoms. Despite this, several model organisms have proven valuable in developing and screening candidate drugs. One such model organism is the fruit fly Drosophila. First, we review the current un

SUBMITTER: Androschuk A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4453272 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature