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The effect of acetyl-L-carnitine administration on persons with Down syndrome
Pueschel SM.. Research in developmental disabilities, 2006-04-18
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Since previous investigations reported improvements in cognition of patients with dementia after acetyl-L-carnitine therapy and since there is an increased risk for persons with Down syndrome to develop Alzheimer disease, this study was designed to investigate the effect of acetyl-L-carnitine administration on neurological, intellectual, and social functions in adults with Down syndrome. In this double-blind study we enrolled 40 individuals with Down syndrome and administered acetyl-L-carnitine to the study group during a six months period. Specified examinations and psychological tests were given to persons in both the study and control groups at the start of the investigation and at 3, 6, and 9 months. A detailed analysis of the data revealed that acetyl-L-carnitine administration did not enhance central nervous system functions and that it did not benefit persons with Down syndrome.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Pueschel, S. M. (2006). The effect of acetyl-L-carnitine administration on persons with Down syndrome. Research in developmental disabilities. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2004.07.009
Vancouver
Pueschel SM. The effect of acetyl-L-carnitine administration on persons with Down syndrome. Research in developmental disabilities. 2006. doi:10.1016/j.ridd.2004.07.009. PMID: 16621446.
BibTeX
@article{pueschel2006-16621446,
author = {Pueschel, S. M.},
title = {{The effect of acetyl-L-carnitine administration on persons with Down syndrome}},
journal = {Research in developmental disabilities},
year = {2006},
doi = {10.1016/j.ridd.2004.07.009},
pmid = {16621446},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2004.07.009}
}
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Key findings
- Since previous investigations reported improvements in cognition of patients with dementia after acetyl-L-carnitine therapy and since there is an increased risk for persons with Down syndrome to develop Alzheimer disease, this study was designed to investigate the effect of acetyl-L-carnitine administration on neurological, intellectual, and social functions in adults with Down syndrome.
- A detailed analysis of the data revealed that acetyl-L-carnitine administration did not enhance central nervous system functions and that it did not benefit persons with Down syndrome.
Why it matters
In this double-blind study of 40 adults with Down syndrome, acetyl-L-carnitine given for six months did not enhance central nervous system functions and did not benefit the participants. The study found no cognitive or functional benefit from this treatment.
Study details
- Participants40
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Research in developmental disabilities) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Research in Developmental Disabilities: journal h-index 158 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2006 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 40 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 2 / 2 | Randomised and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 24 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.1 citations a year over 22 year(s) since 2006 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Siegfried M. Pueschel: h-index 16 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Brown University: institution h-index 1,120 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16621446) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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