Effort To Prevent Mental Retardation

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30882, 15 October 1965, Page 23

Effort To Prevent Mental Retardation

(Special Crspdt N.Z.P.A.) LONDON, October 13. A pilot survey team from the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital has begun the task of examining the first of about 7000 babies it hopes to screen annually for six conditions, which, untreated, could lead to mental retardation. The team is believed to be the first in the country to use the technique of taking a epot of blood from the baby’s heed and examining the results by chromotography. The principle behind the treatment is that substances in the child’s diet, which will not be broken down and utilised correctly, must be removed from the diet to a degree which allows the child to develop normally. The survey is one of three to be permitted in Britain over the next two or three years. Because early diagnosis is essential if treatment is to be successful, most of the sampling will be done when the babies are 10 days old. The parents are being reassured that the test will not upset the baby, and that

10,000 babies have already been safely tested in Canada.

There is a condition in ceriain babies Which produces an excess of amino-acids. The treatment for this is a reduction of protein intake. The child might have to take a reduced amount of meat, milk, eggs, and cheese for the rest of its life.