Efficacy of Bumetanide to Improve Cognitive Functions in Down Syndrome

Summary

The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinical efficacy of a known diuretic drug, Bumetanide, in terms of improvement of memory and psychological functioning in children and adolescents with Down syndrome (DS), in order to develop therapeutic strategies for cognitive and psychopathology aspects associated with the syndrome. The study also aims to identify possible predictors and biological and genetic markers related to the efficacy of the treatment. Recently, preliminary studies conducted on the animal model of Down syndrome have proven the efficacy of the drug Bumetanide in counteracting some brain anomalies related to communication between nerve cells (synaptic transmission) typical of the syndrome, with the effect of improving memory skills. Behaviour-enhancing effects have also been found in preliminary studies in humans with other neurodevelopmental disorders (e.g., autism spectrum disorders). The drug Bumetanide could therefore be useful in counteracting the biological mechanisms that cause some cognitive deficits associated with Down syndrome. The potential of this therapeutic approach will be tested through a clinical trial in a population of children and adolescent patients with DS, in a randomized placebo-controlled trial with a three-month treatment with Bumetanide. Participants will be randomly assigned to the experimental group that will receive the treatment (Bumetanide) vs the control/comparison group that will receive the placebo. Bumetanide is a diuretic drug that has been widely used in humans in the past with few side effects, is orally active, and is very inexpensive. 64 participants will be recruited.

Timeline

Start

2023-01-11

Primary completion

2025-12-30

Completion

2026-09-30

Publications

• Background Cancedda L, Fiumelli H, Chen K, Poo MM. Excitatory GABA action is essential for morphological maturation of cortical neurons in vivo. J Neurosci. 2007 May 9;27(19):5224-35. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.5169-06.2007.
• Background Deidda G, Bozarth IF, Cancedda L. Modulation of GABAergic transmission in development and neurodevelopmental disorders: investigating physiology and pathology to gain therapeutic perspectives. Front Cell Neurosci. 2014 May 22;8:119. doi: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00119. eCollection 2014.
• Background Savardi A, Borgogno M, De Vivo M, Cancedda L. Pharmacological tools to target NKCC1 in brain disorders. Trends Pharmacol Sci. 2021 Dec;42(12):1009-1034. doi: 10.1016/j.tips.2021.09.005. Epub 2021 Oct 4.
• Background Lemonnier E, Degrez C, Phelep M, Tyzio R, Josse F, Grandgeorge M, Hadjikhani N, Ben-Ari Y. A randomised controlled trial of bumetanide in the treatment of autism in children. Transl Psychiatry. 2012 Dec 11;2(12):e202. doi: 10.1038/tp.2012.124.
• Background Lemonnier E, Villeneuve N, Sonie S, Serret S, Rosier A, Roue M, Brosset P, Viellard M, Bernoux D, Rondeau S, Thummler S, Ravel D, Ben-Ari Y. Effects of bumetanide on neurobehavioral function in children and adolescents with autism spectrum disorders. Transl Psychiatry. 2017 May 9;7(5):e1124. doi: 10.1038/tp.2017.101. No abstract available.

Drugs

Indications