In laboratories at Flinders University, researchers have found nine medicines already approved for other conditions that may slow the brain damage caused by Sanfilippo syndrome — a rare childhood dementia that robs children of memory, movement, and years of life before most have had a chance to live them. Using skin cells reprogrammed from affected children and guided by machine learning, the team screened dozens of existing drugs and identified candidates that restored brain cell health within two weeks. Because these medicines have already cleared regulatory approval, they could reach clinic
Australian researchers identify existing drugs to slow rare childhood dementia
Sanfilippo syndrome causes progressive loss of memory, behavior and physical abilities in children, with half of affected children dying by age ten.