Altered Sleep in Fragile X Syndrome: Basis for a Potential Therapeutic Target
Carolyn B. Smith, PhD
Principal Investigator
Rachel Sare, PhD
FRAXA Fellow
National Institute of Mental Health
Bethesda, MD
2016-2018 Grant Funding: $90,000
Summary
Sleep abnormalities are common among people who have Fragile X syndrome. This team studied sleep issues, aiming to find ways to normalize sleep patterns and - hopefully - also other symptoms of the disorder.
The Science
We hypothesize that sleep abnormalities contribute to behavioral abnormalities in Fragile X syndrome, and we propose that treatment strategies should include a focus on normalizing sleep patterns. Our long-term goal is to identify potentially modifiable risk factors contributing to symptoms of FXS. Our objective is to determine the extent to which social behavior abnormalities, hyperactivity, and learning impairments are improved when sleep is improved in a mouse model of FXS. If improving sleep improves behavior, we propose that treatment of sleep may be a novel therapy for FXS that may be used alone or in combination with other proposed therapies.
