A recent study published in the Science Translational Medicine journal has asserted that hiking the levels of a neurotransmitter called norepinephrine, which is the message-carrying chemical, might help prevent some cases of Down Syndrome, a condition that interferes with learning’s and makes brain's natural development harder.

US researchers injected laboratory mice, with a rodent version of Down, with medicines which increased the norepinephrine number, and this led to a significant improvement in their learning ability. This finding is much delightful news for residents of a country where an estimated 5,000 newborns every year are affected with Down Syndrome.

"If you intervene early enough, you will be able to help kids with Down syndrome to collect and modulate information", said Dr Ahmad Salehi, lead researchers. "Theoretically, that could lead to an improvement in cognitive functions in these kids".

Researchers have noted that while they were surprised to see the drug work so fast and so effectively, its effects did not last very long and the mice seemed to return to their old, withdrawn self after a while. But Dr. Salehi shared optimism about finding a drug which would not wear off so easily.