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Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155:438-439.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text and any section headings.

DOES THE DRUG piracetam improve the cognition of children with Down syndrome?¹ In contrast with exuberant testimonials appearing on television and the Internet, Lobaugh et al² found no substantial benefit in their randomized controlled study. Despite the trial's relatively small cohort size, its rigorous double-blinded crossover design should earn our respect, while their findings (especially of undesirable behavioral effects) should temper our enthusiasm for piracetam markedly.

Will it? An analogy drawn from recent history suggests otherwise. After a well-conducted study³ of secretin's effect on children with autism and pervasive development disorder, which similarly showed no substantial benefit, parents of children enrolled in the trial still wished to continue treatment, and a variety of advocacy groups challenged the legitimacy of the study's conclusions and called for more research.^{3, 4} Such occurrences should give us pause to consider how to avoid these cycles of frustration.

ADVOCACY COMMUNITIES IN THE INFORMATION AGE

Given the diversity of child advocates—from parents to . . . [Full Text of this Article]

SCIENCE, SOCIETY, AND ATTRIBUTES OF ROBUST RESEARCH

PARADIGM OF PARTICIPATORY RESEARCH

RELATED ARTICLE

Piracetam Therapy Does Not Enhance Cognitive Functioning in Children With Down Syndrome
Nancy J. Lobaugh, Vladimir Karaskov, Vicki Rombough, Joanne Rovet, Susan Bryson, Rachel Greenbaum, Robert H. Haslam, and Gideon Koren
Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2001;155(4):442-448.
ABSTRACT | FULL TEXT  

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES

Piracetam Does Not Help Cognition in Down's Syndrome
JWatch General 2001;2001:6-6.
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