Fragile X is the leading inherited cause of intellectual disabilities and the most common known cause of autism. Although Fragile X is virtually unknown among the general public, it affects about 1 in 4000 boys and 1 in 6000 girls worldwide. Approximately 1 in 260 women and 1 in 800 men are carriers. Fragile X can cause symptoms including extreme anxiety, hyperactivity, autism, and seizures.
Remarkably, all these symptoms are caused by one missing protein which is vital for normal brain development. Prospects for treatments and a cure are excellent: if this protein could be replaced, or if a drug were found which could compensate for its absence, it would be possible to treat the disorder.
FRAXA Research Foundation has funded over $24,000,000 in biomedical research, yielding discoveries which can change the lives of all families struggling with Fragile X.
Donations received help support research teams around the world who are tackling this challenge.