Low-Dose Sertraline Improves Receptive Language in Children with Fragile X Syndrome when Eye Tracking Methodology is used to Measure Treatment Outcome

Abstract

Background Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is a X-linked genetic disorder caused by a trinucleotide CGG repeat expansion of over 200 repetitions on the fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1) gene at Xq27.3 [1] and is the most common form of inherited intellectual disability [2]. The full FXS mutation typically causes FMR1 methylation, resulting in significantly reduced or absent levels of the FMR1 Abstract Background: Language impairments constitute a significant part of the phenotype of individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS)-the most common form of inherited intellectual disability. It has been hypothesized that a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) may improve language development in children with FXS by regulating serotonin levels. However, due to social anxiety and withdrawal symptoms in children with FXS, it is difficult to collect reliable measurements of language abilities in these children using standardized, in-person assessments. The present study examined: