Small-molecule therapeutic boosts spatial memory and motor function in Rett syndrome mice

Rett syndrome is a neurological disorder affecting learning and development, caused by a mutation in the MECP2 gene triggering decreased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Previous research has shown that treatment with a small-molecule BDNF mimetic, LM22A-4, can lead to improvements in respiratory problems associated with the disease. Now, new research reveals that LM22A-4 may also improve spatial memory and motor skill defects in a Rett syndrome mouse model.