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Barton-Hulsey A, Phinney S, Collins S. Augmentative and Alternative Communication Supports for Language and Literacy in Preschool: Considerations for Down Syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Semin Speech Lang 2021; 42:345-362. [PMID: 34311485 DOI: 10.1055/s-0041-1730996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Children with Down syndrome and children with autism spectrum disorder have a range of speech abilities during preschool that impacts access to both language and literacy instruction. It is the responsibility of the speech-language pathologist to advocate for and provide intervention using augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) through individualized assessment. This article provides a review of the literature supporting the use of AAC during preschool for both language and literacy development in children with Down syndrome and children with autism spectrum disorder who have limited speech. A small scale exploratory report is discussed to highlight differences in early literacy skills found in children in each group. Implications for AAC intervention during preschool to support both language and literacy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Barton-Hulsey
- School of Communication Science and Disorders, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
| | - Sarah Phinney
- Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Georgia State University, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Sara Collins
- School of Communication Science and Disorders, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida
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52
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Alldred MJ, Penikalapati SC, Lee SH, Heguy A, Roussos P, Ginsberg SD. Profiling Basal Forebrain Cholinergic Neurons Reveals a Molecular Basis for Vulnerability Within the Ts65Dn Model of Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease. Mol Neurobiol 2021; 58:5141-5162. [PMID: 34263425 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-021-02453-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Accepted: 06/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Basal forebrain cholinergic neuron (BFCN) degeneration is a hallmark of Down syndrome (DS) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Current therapeutics have been unsuccessful in slowing disease progression, likely due to complex pathological interactions and dysregulated pathways that are poorly understood. The Ts65Dn trisomic mouse model recapitulates both cognitive and morphological deficits of DS and AD, including BFCN degeneration. We utilized Ts65Dn mice to understand mechanisms underlying BFCN degeneration to identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention. We performed high-throughput, single population RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) to interrogate transcriptomic changes within medial septal nucleus (MSN) BFCNs, using laser capture microdissection to individually isolate ~500 choline acetyltransferase-immunopositive neurons in Ts65Dn and normal disomic (2N) mice at 6 months of age (MO). Ts65Dn mice had unique MSN BFCN transcriptomic profiles at ~6 MO clearly differentiating them from 2N mice. Leveraging Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and KEGG analysis, we linked differentially expressed gene (DEG) changes within MSN BFCNs to several canonical pathways and aberrant physiological functions. The dysregulated transcriptomic profile of trisomic BFCNs provides key information underscoring selective vulnerability within the septohippocampal circuit. We propose both expected and novel therapeutic targets for DS and AD, including specific DEGs within cholinergic, glutamatergic, GABAergic, and neurotrophin pathways, as well as select targets for repairing oxidative phosphorylation status in neurons. We demonstrate and validate this interrogative quantitative bioinformatic analysis of a key dysregulated neuronal population linking single population transcript changes to an established pathological hallmark associated with cognitive decline for therapeutic development in human DS and AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa J Alldred
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA.,Departments of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sai C Penikalapati
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA
| | - Sang Han Lee
- Center for Biomedical Imaging and Neuromodulation, Nathan Kline Institute, Orangeburg, NY, USA
| | - Adriana Heguy
- Genome Technology Center, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Panos Roussos
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA.,Departments of Genetics and Genomic Sciences and Psychiatry and the Institute for Data Science and Genomic Technology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephen D Ginsberg
- Center for Dementia Research, Nathan Kline Institute, 140 Old Orangeburg Road, Orangeburg, NY, 10962, USA. .,Departments of Psychiatry, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. .,Neuroscience & Physiology, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA. .,NYU Neuroscience Institute, New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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53
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Ward R, Sanoudaki E. Bilingualism in children with a dual diagnosis of Down syndrome and Autism Spectrum Disorder. CLINICAL LINGUISTICS & PHONETICS 2021; 35:663-689. [PMID: 33045862 DOI: 10.1080/02699206.2020.1818288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2020] [Revised: 08/27/2020] [Accepted: 08/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Research shows that a substantial proportion of children with Down syndrome (DS) also meet the clinical criteria for Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Children with this dual diagnosis display a linguistic profile that includes significant language delays and language impairments which often differ from the impairments observed in each developmental disability (DD) separately. Given the challenges observed with language acquisition for children with DS-ASD, concerns might be raised regarding the outcomes and suitability of a bilingual environment for children with this dual diagnosis specifically. The aim of this research was to explore the language profiles of four children with DS-ASD. A multiple case-study approach was employed. Four children with a confirmed DS-ASD diagnosis who had received exposure to two languages (English and Welsh) were assessed on a range of cognitive and linguistic measures. Performance was compared to three control groups; bilinguals with DS, English monolinguals with DS and mental age-matched typically developing bilinguals. Assessments comprised of expressive and receptive language, phonological awareness, working memory and non-verbal cognitive abilities. Considerable variability was found in the cognitive and linguistic profiles of the case-study participants. Children with DS-ASD displayed similar language profiles to that of the bilingual and monolingual children with DS in the areas tested, although performance was generally lower than that of the TD bilingual children. Although substantial variability was found, participants were developing bilingual abilities in a similar trajectory to children with DS in line with the degree of exposure to each language. This research highlights the need to assess bilingual children with complex dual diagnoses with an individualistic approach and carefully consider how to appropriately assess and treat bilingual children within speech and language therapy provisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Ward
- School of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
- School of Psychology and Therapeutic Studies, University of South Wales, South Wales, UK
| | - Eirini Sanoudaki
- School of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics, Bangor University, Bangor, UK
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54
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Pearson E, Nielsen E, Kita S, Groves L, Nelson L, Moss J, Oliver C. Low speech rate but high gesture rate during conversational interaction in people with Cornelia de Lange syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2021; 65:601-607. [PMID: 33694205 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cornelia de Lange syndrsome (CdLS) is a rare genetic syndrome with notable impaired expressive communication characterised by reduced spoken language. We examined gesture use to refine the description of expressive communication impairments in CdLS. METHODS During conversations, we compared gesture use in people with CdLS to peers with Down syndrome (DS) matched for receptive language and adaptive ability, and typically developing (TD) individuals of similar chronological age. RESULTS As anticipated the DS and CdLS groups used fewer words during conversation than TD peers (P < .001). However, the CdLS group used twice the number of gestures per 100 words compared with the DS and TD groups (P = .003). CONCLUSIONS Individuals with CdLS have a significantly higher gesture rate than expected given their level of intellectual disability and chronological age. This result indicates the cause of reduced use of spoken language does not extend to all forms of expressive communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- E Pearson
- Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- School of Psychology, College of Health and Life Sciences, Aston University, Birmingham, UK
| | - E Nielsen
- Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - S Kita
- Department of Psychology, University of Warwick, Coventry, UK
| | - L Groves
- Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | - L Nelson
- Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Royal Derby Hospital, Derby, UK
| | - J Moss
- Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Surrey, UK
| | - C Oliver
- Cerebra Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, School of Psychology, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
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Singletary B. Learning Through Shared Care : Allomaternal Care Impacts Cognitive Development in Early Infancy in a Western Population. HUMAN NATURE-AN INTERDISCIPLINARY BIOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE 2021; 32:326-362. [PMID: 33970458 DOI: 10.1007/s12110-021-09395-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 04/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates how allomaternal care (AMC) impacts human development outside of energetics by evaluating relations between important qualitative and quantitative aspects of AMC and developmental outcomes in a Western population. This study seeks to determine whether there are measurable differences in cognitive and language outcomes as predicted by differences in exposure to AMC via formal (e.g., childcare facilities) and informal (e.g., family and friends) networks. Data were collected from 102 mothers and their typically developing infants aged 13-18 months. AMC predictor data were collected using questionnaires, structured daily diaries, and longitudinal interviews. Developmental outcomes were assessed using the Cognitive, Receptive Language, and Expressive Language subtests of the Bayley III Screening Test. Additional demographic covariates were also evaluated. Akaike Information Criterion (AIC)-informed model selection was used to identify the best-fitting model for each outcome across three working linear regression models. Although AMC variables had no significant effects on Receptive and Expressive Language subtest scores, highly involved familial AMC had a significant medium effect on Cognitive subtest score (β = 0.23, p < 0.01, semi-partial r = 0.28). Formal childcare had no effect on any outcome. This study provides preliminary evidence that there is a measurable connection between AMC and cognitive development in some populations and provides a methodological base from which to assess these connections cross-culturally through future studies. As these effects are attributable to AMC interactions with networks of mostly related individuals, these findings present an area for further investigation regarding the kin selection hypothesis for AMC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britt Singletary
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, US. .,Crane Center for Early Childhood Research & Policy, The Ohio State University, 175 E. 7th Avenue, Columbus, OH, 43201, US.
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56
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Lanfranchi S, Onnivello S, Lunardon M, Sella F, Zorzi M. Parent-based training of basic number skills in children with Down syndrome using an adaptive computer game. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2021; 112:103919. [PMID: 33690112 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2021.103919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Numeracy is an area of difficulty for children with Down syndrome (DS). It has been demonstrated that The Number Race, a non-commercial adaptive computer game designed to foster basic mathematical abilities, represents a promising instrument to enhance these skills in children with DS when delivered by an expert in a clinical setting. AIMS In the present study, we assessed the efficacy of The Number Race when administered at home by properly instructed and remotely supervised parents. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Basic numerical skills were assessed before and after training, as well as at three-months follow-up. Performance of children with DS who worked at home with the parent (PG) was compared with that of children who received the training by an expert (EG). For both groups, the training lasted ten weeks, with two weekly sessions of 20-30 min. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Results show that both groups improved across various measures of numerical proficiency, including the overall score of the numeracy assessment battery, while only the EG showed an improvement in a measure of mental calculation. The improvements were maintained three months after the end of the training. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS These findings confirm the efficacy of The Number Race and extend it to an home-based setting, whereby parents administer the training with external supervision.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Marco Zorzi
- University of Padova, Italy; IRCCS San Camillo Hospital, Venice, Italy.
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57
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Cognitive and Adaptive Characterization of Children and Adolescents with KBG Syndrome: An Explorative Study. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10071523. [PMID: 33917340 PMCID: PMC8038739 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10071523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
KBG syndrome (KBGS) is a rare Mendelian condition caused by heterozygous mutations in ANKRD11 or microdeletions in chromosome 16q24.3 encompassing the gene. KBGS is clinically variable, which makes its diagnosis difficult in a significant proportion of cases. The present study aims at delineating the cognitive profile and adaptive functioning of children and adolescents with KBGS. Twenty-four Italian KBGS with a confirmed diagnosis by molecular testing of the causative ANKRD11 gene were recruited to define both cognitive profile as measured by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale and adaptive functioning as measured by Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-II Edition or the Adaptive Behavior Assessment System-II Edition. Among children and adolescents, 17 showed intellectual disability, six presented borderline intellectual functioning and only one child did not show cognitive defects. Concerning cognitive profile, results revealed significant differences between the four indexes of Wechsler Intelligence Scale. Namely, the verbal comprehension index was significantly higher than the perceptual reasoning index, working memory index and the processing speed index. Concerning adaptive functioning, no difference between the domains was found. In conclusion, in our cohort, a heterogeneous profile has been documented in cognitive profiles, with a spike on verbal comprehension, while a flat-trend has emerged in adaptive functioning. Our cognitive and adaptive characterization drives professionals to set the best clinical supports, capturing the complexity and heterogeneity of this rare condition.
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58
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Signalling pathways contributing to learning and memory deficits in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome. Neuronal Signal 2021; 5:NS20200011. [PMID: 33763235 PMCID: PMC7955101 DOI: 10.1042/ns20200011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic trisomic disorder that produces life-long changes in physiology and cognition. Many of the changes in learning and memory seen in DS are reminiscent of disorders involving the hippocampal/entorhinal circuit. Mouse models of DS typically involve trisomy of murine chromosome 16 is homologous for many of the genes triplicated in human trisomy 21, and provide us with good models of changes in, and potential pharmacotherapy for, human DS. Recent careful dissection of the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS has revealed differences in key signalling pathways from the basal forebrain to the hippocampus and associated rhinal cortices, as well as changes in the microstructure of the hippocampus itself. In vivo behavioural and electrophysiological studies have shown that Ts65Dn animals have difficulties in spatial memory that mirror hippocampal deficits, and have changes in hippocampal electrophysiological phenomenology that may explain these differences, and align with expectations generated from in vitro exploration of this model. Finally, given the existing data, we will examine the possibility for pharmacotherapy for DS, and outline the work that remains to be done to fully understand this system.
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59
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Meneghetti C, Toffalini E, Lanfranchi S, Roch M, Carretti B. Path Learning in Individuals With Down Syndrome: The Challenge of Learning Condition and Cognitive Abilities. Front Psychol 2021; 12:643702. [PMID: 33841279 PMCID: PMC8027337 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.643702] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Analyzing navigational abilities and related aspects in individuals with Down syndrome (DS) is of considerable interest because of its relevance to everyday life. This study investigates path learning, the conditions favoring it, and the cognitive abilities involved. A group of 30 adults with DS and 32 typically-developing (TD) children matched on receptive vocabulary were shown a 4 × 4 Floor Matrix and asked to repeat increasingly long sequences of steps by walking on the grid. The sequences were presented under two learning conditions, one called Oral instructions (participants received verbal instructions such as “turn right” or “turn left”), the other Observation (participants watched the experimenter's moves). Participants were also assessed on verbal and visuospatial cognitive measures. The results showed a similarly better performance in both groups when the Floor Matrix task was administered in the Observation as opposed to the Oral instructions condition. As for the relation with cognitive abilities, in the Floor Matrix task in the Oral instructions condition, individuals with DS showed an effect of both verbal and visuospatial abilities, which was only positive for verbal ability. The effect of verbal and visuospatial abilities was negligible in the TD group. In the Observation condition, performance was predicted by sequential working memory in both groups. Overall, these results shed light on path learning in individuals with DS, showing that they benefited from the Observation condition, and that the involvement of their cognitive abilities depended on the learning condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chiara Meneghetti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Enrico Toffalini
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Silvia Lanfranchi
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Maja Roch
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
| | - Barbara Carretti
- Department of General Psychology, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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Cook A, Quinn ED, Rowland C. Exploring Expressive Communication Skills in a Cross-Sectional Sample of Individuals With a Dual Diagnosis of Autism Spectrum Disorder and Down Syndrome. AMERICAN JOURNAL ON INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2021; 126:97-113. [PMID: 33651892 PMCID: PMC8552670 DOI: 10.1352/1944-7558-126.2.97] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with a comorbid diagnosis of Down syndrome (DS) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have been found to exhibit greater deficits in expressive communication than individuals with DS only. We hypothesized that individuals with a comorbid diagnosis (n = 430) would have significantly lower Communication Matrix scores and specifically social communication scores than individuals with DS alone (n = 4,352). In a sample of 4,782 individuals with DS, scores for individuals with a comorbid diagnosis were on average 18.01 points and 7.26 points lower for total score and social score respectively as compared to individuals with DS. Comorbid diagnosis accounted for 10.5% of the variance in communication scores. Between-group differences in referential gestures and symbolic communication behaviors were also observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandria Cook
- Alexandria Cook, Emily D. Quinn, and Charity Rowland, Oregon Health and Science University, Institute on Development and Disability, Portland
| | - Emily D Quinn
- Alexandria Cook, Emily D. Quinn, and Charity Rowland, Oregon Health and Science University, Institute on Development and Disability, Portland
| | - Charity Rowland
- Alexandria Cook, Emily D. Quinn, and Charity Rowland, Oregon Health and Science University, Institute on Development and Disability, Portland
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61
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Uguagliati B, Al-Absi AR, Stagni F, Emili M, Giacomini A, Guidi S, Nyengaard JR, Bartesaghi R. Early appearance of developmental alterations in the dendritic tree of the hippocampal granule cells in the Ts65Dn model of Down syndrome. Hippocampus 2021; 31:435-447. [PMID: 33464704 DOI: 10.1002/hipo.23303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2020] [Revised: 12/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), a genetic condition caused by triplication of chromosome 21, is characterized by alterations in various cognitive domains, including hippocampus-dependent memory functions, starting from early life stages. The major causes of intellectual disability in DS are prenatal neurogenesis alterations followed by impairment of dendritic development in early infancy. While there is evidence that the Ts65Dn mouse, the most widely used model of DS, exhibits dendritic alterations in adulthood, no studies are available regarding the onset of dendritic pathology. The goal of the current study was to establish whether this model exhibits early dendritic alterations in the hippocampus, a region whose function is severely damaged in DS. To this purpose, in Golgi-stained brains, we evaluated the dendritic arborization and dendritic spines of the granule cells of the hippocampal dentate gyrus in Ts65Dn mice aged 8 (P8) and 15 (P15) days. While P15 Ts65Dn mice exhibited a notably hypotrophic dendritic arbor and a reduced spine density, P8 mice exhibited a moderate reduction in the number of dendritic ramifications and no differences in spine density in comparison with their euploid counterparts. Both in P8 and P15 mice, spines were longer and had a longer neck, suggesting possible alterations in synaptic function. Moreover, P8 and P15 Ts65Dn mice had more thin spines and fewer stubby spines in comparison with euploid mice. Our study provides novel evidence on the onset of dendritic pathology, one of the causes of intellectual disability in DS, showing that it is already detectable in the dentate gyrus of Ts65Dn pups. This evidence strengthens the suitability of this model of DS as a tool to study dendritic pathology in DS and to test the efficacy of early therapeutic interventions aimed at ameliorating hippocampal development and, therefore, memory functions in children with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatrice Uguagliati
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Abdel-Rahman Al-Absi
- Core Centre for Molecular Morphology, Section for Stereology and Microscopy, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Fiorenza Stagni
- Department for Life Quality Studies, University of Bologna, Rimini, Italy
| | - Marco Emili
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Andrea Giacomini
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Sandra Guidi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Jens Randel Nyengaard
- Core Centre for Molecular Morphology, Section for Stereology and Microscopy, Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Renata Bartesaghi
- Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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62
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Shimizu R, Ishihara K, Kawashita E, Sago H, Yamakawa K, Mizutani KI, Akiba S. Decrease in the T-box1 gene expression in embryonic brain and adult hippocampus of down syndrome mouse models. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2021; 535:87-92. [PMID: 33348080 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2020.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS, Trisomy 21) is the most common genetic cause of delayed fetal brain development and postnatal intellectual disability. Although delayed fetal brain development might be involved in intellectual disability, no evidence of an association between these abnormal phenotypes has been shown. To identify molecules differentially expressed in both the prenatal forebrain and adult hippocampus of Ts1Cje mice, a mouse model of DS, we employed a transcriptomic analysis. In the present study, we conducted transcriptomic profiling of the hippocampus of adult Ts1Cje mice and compared the results with the previously obtained transcriptomic profile of the prenatal forebrain at embryonic day 14.5. Results showed that the Tbx1 mRNA expression was decreased at both life stages. In addition, the decreased expression of Tbx1 mRNA was confirmed in other DS mouse models, Dp(16)1Yey/+ and Ts1Rhr mice, which carry longer and shorter trisomic regions, respectively. Taken together, these findings suggest that Tbx1 may link the delayed fetal brain development and intellectual disability in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryohei Shimizu
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Division of Pathological Sciences, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, 607-8414, Japan
| | - Keiichi Ishihara
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Division of Pathological Sciences, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, 607-8414, Japan.
| | - Eri Kawashita
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Division of Pathological Sciences, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, 607-8414, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Sago
- Center for Maternal-Fetal, Neonatal and Reproductive Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Yamakawa
- Department of Neurodevelopmental Disorder Genetics, Institute of Brain Sciences, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8601, Japan
| | - Ken-Ichi Mizutani
- Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kobe Gakuin University, Kobe, 650-8586, Japan
| | - Satoshi Akiba
- Department of Pathological Biochemistry, Division of Pathological Sciences, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, 607-8414, Japan
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63
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Loveall SJ, Hawthorne K, Gaines M. A meta-analysis of prosody in autism, Williams syndrome, and Down syndrome. JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 2021; 89:106055. [PMID: 33285421 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2020.106055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 09/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Prosody, the rhythm and melody of speech, is an important component of effective communication, and it is an area of difficulty for many populations who struggle with communication. This paper is a meta-analysis of nine studies (and two sets of unpublished data) that assessed prosody using the Profiling Elements of Prosody in Speech-Communication (PEPS-C; Peppé & McCann, 2003) in autism spectrum disorder, Williams syndrome, and Down syndrome. Our original goal was to include studies involving any neurodevelopmental disorder that is commonly associated with intellectual disability, yet our systematic search, which included three databases (i.e., PsychInfo, ERIC, and PubMed), only identified studies involving these three groups. To be included in the meta-analysis, studies had to include a group (n ≥ 3 participants) with a neurodevelopmental disorder commonly associated with intellectual disability and a typically developing comparison group matched on chronological age, nonverbal abilities, or verbal abilities. Studies also needed to report original data using the PEPS-C and be available in English. Study quality was assessed using a checklist adapted from Downes et al. (2016). Results revealed that prosodic form was a weakness for each etiology, while unique patterns of strengths and weaknesses were evident for prosodic functions. Groups with autism (n = 5), all classified as high-functioning or with Asperger's syndrome, exhibited weakness in emotional affect but some relative strengths with turn-end and focus tasks. Groups with Williams syndrome (n = 4) demonstrated weaknesses on phrase/sentence-level tasks and relative strengths on word-level tasks. Groups with Down syndrome (n = 2) had the greatest difficulty overall, though performance was better on receptive (vs. expressive) function tasks. By combining studies and related subtasks of the PEPS-C, we are able to more confidently generalize findings for each population and identify targets for intervention. However, given the limited number of studies identified, this paper also highlights the need for more research on prosody in intellectual disability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan J Loveall
- University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Department of Special Education and Communication Disorders, 301 Barkley Memorial Center, P.O. Box 830738, Lincoln, NE, 68583, United States; University of Mississippi, Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, P.O. Box 1848, 164 Jeannette Phillips Drive, University, MS, 38655, United States.
| | - Kara Hawthorne
- Gallaudet University, Department of Hearing, Speech, and Language Sciences, Sorenson Language and Communication Center, Washington, DC, 2002, United States; University of Mississippi, Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, P.O. Box 1848, 164 Jeannette Phillips Drive, University, MS, 38655, United States.
| | - Madelynne Gaines
- University of Mississippi, Department of Communication Sciences & Disorders, P.O. Box 1848, 164 Jeannette Phillips Drive, University, MS, 38655, United States.
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Manrique-Niño J, Díaz-Forero A, Velez-van Meerbeke A, Ramírez-Guerrero S, Florez-Esparza G, Talero-Gutiérrez C. Executive function in down syndrome children in Bogotá, Colombia. Heliyon 2020; 6:e05585. [PMID: 33294710 PMCID: PMC7701347 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e05585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The study aim was to characterize executive function in 114 children with Down syndrome from a reference institution in Bogotá, Colombia. Children were screened with the Battelle Developmental Inventory to establish their developmental age. Eighty children with an equivalent mental age of 2–5.11 years were allocated to groups of 20 according to their mental age. Parents and teachers then completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version. We found a high variability and a low correlation between parent and teacher ratings. In general, children showed a specific profile characterized by weakness in the domains of working memory, shifting, planning, and organization, and strengths in the emotional control domain. These findings indicate a characteristic pattern of executive function in children with Down syndrome. This profile could form the basis for the planning of clinical assessment programs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julián Manrique-Niño
- Neuroscience Research Group Neuros, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Andrés Díaz-Forero
- Neuroscience Research Seedbed SemineURos, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Alberto Velez-van Meerbeke
- Neuroscience Research Group Neuros, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Sofía Ramírez-Guerrero
- Neuroscience Research Seedbed SemineURos, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Gabriela Florez-Esparza
- Neuroscience Research Seedbed SemineURos, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
| | - Claudia Talero-Gutiérrez
- Neuroscience Research Group Neuros, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad del Rosario, Bogotá D.C., Colombia
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Altable M, de la Serna JM. Down's syndrome and COVID-19: risk or protection factor against infection? A molecular and genetic approach. Neurol Sci 2020; 42:407-413. [PMID: 33231770 PMCID: PMC7683327 DOI: 10.1007/s10072-020-04880-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2020] [Accepted: 11/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of learning difficulties and intellectual disabilities. DS patients often present with several congenital defects and chronic diseases, including immunity disorders. Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) have been seen, which appear to vary with age. At birth, patients present with combined immunodeficiency, with frequent infections that decrease with age. Furthermore, high levels of IL-4 and IL-10 with anti-inflammatory properties and low levels of IL-6 and TNF-α are described in children. The immune system is believed to play an essential role in SARS-CoV-2 pathogenesis, and it has been associated with elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and an exaggerated cytokine release syndrome (CRS) that may eventually trigger a severe situation called cytokine storm. On the other hand, genetic features seem to be involved in the predisposition to illness and its severity. Overexpression of DSCR1 and ZAKI-4 inhibits the translocation of activated T lymphocyte nuclear factor (NF-AT) to the nucleus, a main step in the inflammatory responsiveness. We discuss here the possible role of immunology and genetic features of DS in the infection and prognosis in COVID-19.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcos Altable
- Private Practice of Neurology, Neuroceuta (Virgen de África Clinic), Sargento Mena Street 4, 51001, Ceuta, Spain.
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66
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Lee CE, Urbano RC, Burke MM, Hodapp RM. Who Lives Where and Why? Residential Changes Across Adulthood in Persons With Down Syndrome. JOURNAL OF POLICY AND PRACTICE IN INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES 2020. [DOI: 10.1111/jppi.12364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Chung E. Lee
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Nashville Tennessee USA
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USA
| | - Richard C. Urbano
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Nashville Tennessee USA
- Vanderbilt University Medical Center Nashville Tennessee USA
| | - Meghan M. Burke
- University of Illinois, Urbana‐Champaign Champaign Illinois USA
| | - Robert M. Hodapp
- Vanderbilt Kennedy Center Nashville Tennessee USA
- Vanderbilt University, Peabody College Nashville Tennessee USA
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67
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Martzoukou M, Nousia A, Marinis T. Narrative Abilities of Adults' With Down Syndrome as a Window to Their Morphosyntactic, Socio-Cognitive, and Prosodic Abilities. Front Psychol 2020; 11:2060. [PMID: 32982854 PMCID: PMC7479217 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.02060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common developmental disorder characterized by mild to moderate intellectual disability. Several studies have reported poor language and prosodic skills and contradictory results regarding individuals’ with DS socio-cognitive skills, whereas most of them have focused on children with DS. The present study attempts to explore adults’ with DS language, socio-cognitive and prosodic abilities via the use of story-retellings. Twenty adults with DS and two groups of TD children, one matched to their expressive vocabulary (TD-EVT) and the other matched to their non-verbal mental age (TD-RCPM), took part in the present study. Participants listened to a story while viewing a wordless picture PowerPoint presentation on a computer screen, and then, they were instructed to retell the story while viewing the pictures for a second time. Each participant listened to two stories, one with “lively” and one with “flat” prosody. Results revealed that adults’ with DS performance was comparable with the one presented by the TD-RCPM group, whereas the TD-EVT group performed significantly better in almost all variables. Individuals’ with DS re-narrations, however, contained significantly less complement clauses and internal state terms (related or not related to Theory of Mind–ToM) compared to the re-narrations of both control groups. In contrast, the group with DS performed similarly to both control groups in comprehension questions related to main characters’ internal state terms and significantly better compared to the TD-RCPM group in questions related to ToM. In terms of prosody, all three groups performed significantly better on story structure and comprehension questions when prosody was “lively” compared “flat” prosody. DS group’s re-narrations did not contain enough internal state terms, not due to their inability in recognizing them, but due to their poor morphosyntactic abilities, which did not allow them to find the proper means to express the main characters’ internal states. Prosody facilitated participants with DS in the comprehension and re-narration. This suggests that intervention programs based on prosody could support the language skills of adults with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Martzoukou
- School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Anastasia Nousia
- School of Health Sciences, University of Ioannina, Ioannina, Greece
| | - Theodoros Marinis
- Department of Linguistics, University of Konstanz, Konstanz, Germany.,School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, Reading, United Kingdom
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68
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Shaw PR, Klein JA, Aziz NM, Haydar TF. Longitudinal neuroanatomical and behavioral analyses show phenotypic drift and variability in the Ts65Dn mouse model of Down syndrome. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:dmm046243. [PMID: 32817053 PMCID: PMC7522024 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.046243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 08/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Mouse models of Down syndrome (DS) have been invaluable tools for advancing knowledge of the underlying mechanisms of intellectual disability in people with DS. The Ts(1716)65Dn (Ts65Dn) mouse is one of the most commonly used models as it recapitulates many of the phenotypes seen in individuals with DS, including neuroanatomical changes and impaired learning and memory. In this study, we use rigorous metrics to evaluate multiple cohorts of Ts65Dn ranging from 2014 to the present, including a stock of animals recovered from embryos frozen within ten generations after the colony was first created in 2010. Through quantification of prenatal and postnatal brain development and several behavioral tasks, our results provide a comprehensive comparison of Ts65Dn across time and show a significant amount of variability both across cohorts as well as within cohorts. The inconsistent phenotypes in Ts65Dn mice highlight specific cautions and caveats for use of this model. We outline important steps for ensuring responsible use of Ts65Dn in future research.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia R Shaw
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Jenny A Klein
- Graduate Program in Neuroscience, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Nadine M Aziz
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
| | - Tarik F Haydar
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02118, USA
- Center for Neuroscience Research, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
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69
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Schworer EK, Fidler DJ, Kaur M, Needham AW, Prince MA, Daunhauer LA. Goal-directed action planning in infants with Down syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2020; 64:713-724. [PMID: 32666591 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/27/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Down syndrome (DS) is a neurogenetic disorder associated with risk for executive dysfunction, or difficulties with the cognitive processes required for planning volitional, goal-directed behaviour. This study examines the developmental origins of difficulties with goal-directed action planning in infants with DS to inform our understanding of the cognitive phenotype associated with DS and its implications for intervention. METHOD First, the study compared the performance of infants with DS (n = 44, mean chronological age = 7.5 months, SD = 2.3) and typically developing infants (n = 31, mean chronological age = 7.5 months, SD = 2.9) on plan production and planning efficiency during an early planning task. Next, potential sources of variability in planning behaviour (motor performance and sensory processing) within the DS sample were examined. All infants completed an early planning laboratory task and the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III Cognitive Scale. The motor and sensory skills of infants with DS were assessed by the motor scales of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-III and the Infant Sensory Profile-2. DS-related biomedical history information was provided by caregivers for the infants with DS. RESULTS Between-group differences in planning were observed on the dimensions of strategy production and completion, such that infants with DS were less efficient in their strategy execution than typically developing infants. In the DS group, motor skills and sensory processing were associated with planning efficiency on all components of the early planning task. CONCLUSIONS Less efficient action planning in infants with DS may disrupt the shaping of goal-directed behaviour, and the identification of early risk factors associated with planning efficiency has important implications for early intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- E K Schworer
- Human Development & Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - D J Fidler
- Human Development & Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - M Kaur
- Department of Physical Therapy, MGH Institute of Health Professions, Boston, MA, USA
| | - A W Needham
- Department of Psychology & Human Development, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - M A Prince
- Human Development & Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - L A Daunhauer
- Human Development & Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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70
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Thomas MSC, Ojinaga Alfageme O, D'Souza H, Patkee PA, Rutherford MA, Mok KY, Hardy J, Karmiloff-Smith A. A multi-level developmental approach to exploring individual differences in Down syndrome: genes, brain, behaviour, and environment. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2020; 104:103638. [PMID: 32653761 PMCID: PMC7438975 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103638] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
In this article, we focus on the causes of individual differences in Down syndrome (DS), exemplifying the multi-level, multi-method, lifespan developmental approach advocated by Karmiloff-Smith (1998, 2009, 2012, 2016). We evaluate the possibility of linking variations in infant and child development with variations in the (elevated) risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD) in adults with DS. We review the theoretical basis for this argument, considering genetics, epigenetics, brain, behaviour and environment. In studies 1 and 2, we focus on variation in language development. We utilise data from the MacArthur-Bates Communicative Development Inventories (CDI; Fenson et al., 2007), and Mullen Scales of Early Learning (MSEL) receptive and productive language subscales (Mullen, 1995) from 84 infants and children with DS (mean age 2;3, range 0;7 to 5;3). As expected, there was developmental delay in both receptive and expressive vocabulary and wide individual differences. Study 1 examined the influence of an environmental measure (socio-economic status as measured by parental occupation) on the observed variability. SES did not predict a reliable amount of the variation. Study 2 examined the predictive power of a specific genetic measure (apolipoprotein APOE genotype) which modulates risk for AD in adulthood. There was no reliable effect of APOE genotype, though weak evidence that development was faster for the genotype conferring greater AD risk (ε4 carriers), consistent with recent observations in infant attention (D'Souza, Mason et al., 2020). Study 3 considered the concerted effect of the DS genotype on early brain development. We describe new magnetic resonance imaging methods for measuring prenatal and neonatal brain structure in DS (e.g., volumes of supratentorial brain, cortex, cerebellar volume; Patkee et al., 2019). We establish the methodological viability of linking differences in early brain structure to measures of infant cognitive development, measured by the MSEL, as a potential early marker of clinical relevance. Five case studies are presented as proof of concept, but these are as yet too few to discern a pattern.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael S C Thomas
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom.
| | - Olatz Ojinaga Alfageme
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom; Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Hana D'Souza
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom; Department of Psychology & Newnham College, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 9DF, United Kingdom
| | - Prachi A Patkee
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Mary A Rutherford
- Centre for the Developing Brain, School of Biomedical Engineering and Imaging Sciences, King's College London, St. Thomas's Hospital, London, SE1 7EH, United Kingdom
| | - Kin Y Mok
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - John Hardy
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, Institute of Neurology, University College London, United Kingdom
| | - Annette Karmiloff-Smith
- Centre for Brain and Cognitive Development, Birkbeck, University of London, London WC1E 7HX, United Kingdom
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71
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Joyce A, Elphick H, Farquhar M, Gringras P, Evans H, Bucks RS, Kreppner J, Kingshott R, Martin J, Reynolds J, Rush C, Gavlak J, Hill CM. Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Contributes to Executive Function Impairment in Young Children with Down Syndrome. Behav Sleep Med 2020; 18:611-621. [PMID: 31311334 DOI: 10.1080/15402002.2019.1641501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE/BACKGROUND Children with Down syndrome (DS) commonly experience difficulties with executive function (EF). They are also vulnerable to obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA). OSA is associated with EF deficits in typically developing children. A recent study reported an association between OSA and cognitive deficits in 38 school-aged children with DS. We experimentally investigated EF behaviours in young children with DS, and their association with OSA. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS Children with DS were recruited to take part in a larger study of OSA (N = 202). Parents of 80 children (50 male) aged 36 to 71 months (M = 56.90, SD = 10.19 months) completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function - Preschool Version (BRIEF-P). Of these 80 children, 69 were also successfully studied overnight with domiciliary cardiorespiratory polygraphy to diagnose OSA. RESULTS Obstructive apnoea/hypopnoea index was in the normal range (0-1.49/h) for 28 children but indicated OSA (≥1.5/h) in 41 children. Consistent with previous research, we found a large effect for children experiencing particular weaknesses in working memory, planning and organising, whilst emotional control was a relative strength. OSA was associated with poorer working memory (β = .23, R2 = .05, p = .025), emotional control (β = .20, R2 = .04, p = .047) and shifting (β = .24, R2 = .06, p = .023). CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest that known EF difficulties in DS are already evident at this young age. Children with DS already have limited cognitive reserve and can ill afford additional EF deficit associated with OSA. OSA is amenable to treatment and should be actively treated in these children to promote optimal cognitive development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Joyce
- Centre for Innovative Research Across the Lifecourse, Coventry University , Coventry, UK
| | - Heather Elphick
- Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust , Sheffield, UK
| | - Michael Farquhar
- Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guys & St Thomas's NHS Trust , London, UK
| | - Paul Gringras
- Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guys & St Thomas's NHS Trust , London, UK
| | - Hazel Evans
- Southampton Children's Hospital, Southampton University NHS Trust , Southampton, UK
| | - Romola S Bucks
- School of Psychological Science, University of Western Australia , Perth, Australia
| | - Jana Kreppner
- School of Psychology, University of Southampton , Southampton, UK
| | - Ruth Kingshott
- Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust , Sheffield, UK
| | - Jane Martin
- Southampton Biomedical Research Unit, Southampton General Hospital , Southampton, UK
| | - Janine Reynolds
- Department of Paediatric Respiratory Medicine, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust , Sheffield, UK
| | - Carla Rush
- Evelina London Children's Hospital, Guys & St Thomas's NHS Trust , London, UK
| | - Johanna Gavlak
- Southampton Children's Hospital, Southampton University NHS Trust , Southampton, UK
| | - Catherine M Hill
- Southampton Children's Hospital, Southampton University NHS Trust , Southampton, UK.,School of Clinical and Experimental Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton , Southampton, UK
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72
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Arima-Yoshida F, Raveau M, Shimohata A, Amano K, Fukushima A, Watanave M, Kobayashi S, Hattori S, Usui M, Sago H, Mataga N, Miyakawa T, Yamakawa K, Manabe T. Impairment of spatial memory accuracy improved by Cbr1 copy number resumption and GABA B receptor-dependent enhancement of synaptic inhibition in Down syndrome model mice. Sci Rep 2020; 10:14187. [PMID: 32843708 PMCID: PMC7447763 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-71085-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome is a complex genetic disorder caused by the presence of three copies of the chromosome 21 in humans. The most common models, carrying extra-copies of overlapping fragments of mouse chromosome 16 that is syntenic to human chromosome 21, are Ts2Cje, Ts1Cje and Ts1Rhr mice. In electrophysiological analyses using hippocampal slices, we found that the later phase of the depolarization during tetanic stimulation, which was regulated by GABAB receptors, was significantly smaller in Ts1Cje and Ts2Cje mice than that in WT controls but not in Ts1Rhr mice. Furthermore, isolated GABAB receptor-mediated inhibitory synaptic responses were larger in Ts1Cje mice. To our knowledge, this is the first report that directly shows the enhancement of GABAB receptor-mediated synaptic currents in Ts1Cje mice. These results suggest that GABAB receptor-mediated synaptic inhibition was enhanced in Ts1Cje and Ts2Cje mice but not in Ts1Rhr mice. The Cbr1 gene, which is present in three copies in Ts1Cje and Ts2Cje but not in Ts1Rhr, encodes carbonyl reductase that may facilitate GABAB-receptor activity through a reduction of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2). Interestingly, we found that a reduction of PGE2 and an memory impairment in Ts1Cje mice were alleviated when only Cbr1 was set back to two copies (Ts1Cje;Cbr1+/+/-). However, the GABAB receptor-dependent enhancement of synaptic inhibition in Ts1Cje was unaltered in Ts1Cje;Cbr1+/+/- mice. These results indicate that Cbr1 is one of the genes responsible for DS cognitive impairments and the gene(s) other than Cbr1, which is included in Ts1Cje but not in Ts1Rhr, is responsible for the GABAB receptor-dependent over-inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumiko Arima-Yoshida
- Division of Neuronal Network, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 108-8639, Japan
| | - Matthieu Raveau
- Laboratory for Neurogenetics, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Atsushi Shimohata
- Laboratory for Neurogenetics, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Kenji Amano
- Laboratory for Neurogenetics, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Akihiro Fukushima
- Division of Neuronal Network, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 108-8639, Japan
| | - Masashi Watanave
- Division of Neuronal Network, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 108-8639, Japan
| | - Shizuka Kobayashi
- Division of Neuronal Network, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 108-8639, Japan
| | - Satoko Hattori
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan
| | - Masaya Usui
- Research Resources Division, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Haruhiko Sago
- Center for Maternal-Fetal, Neonatal and Reproductive Medicine, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan
| | - Nobuko Mataga
- Research Resources Division, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Miyakawa
- Division of Systems Medical Science, Institute for Comprehensive Medical Science, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Aichi, 470-1192, Japan
| | - Kazuhiro Yamakawa
- Laboratory for Neurogenetics, RIKEN Center for Brain Science, Wako, Saitama, 351-0198, Japan. .,Department of Neurodevelopmental Disorder Genetics, Institute of Brain Sciences, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Nagoya, Aichi, 467-8601, Japan.
| | - Toshiya Manabe
- Division of Neuronal Network, Institute of Medical Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 108-8639, Japan.
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73
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Early Behavioral Intervention for Young Children with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. CURRENT DEVELOPMENTAL DISORDERS REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40474-020-00201-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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74
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Antonaros F, Ghini V, Pulina F, Ramacieri G, Cicchini E, Mannini E, Martelli A, Feliciello A, Lanfranchi S, Onnivello S, Vianello R, Locatelli C, Cocchi G, Pelleri MC, Vitale L, Strippoli P, Luchinat C, Turano P, Piovesan A, Caracausi M. Plasma metabolome and cognitive skills in Down syndrome. Sci Rep 2020; 10:10491. [PMID: 32591596 PMCID: PMC7319960 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-67195-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome, DS) is the main human genetic cause of intellectual disability (ID). Lejeune hypothesized that DS could be considered a metabolic disease, and we found that subjects with DS have a specific plasma and urinary metabolomic profile. In this work we confirmed the alteration of mitochondrial metabolism in DS and also investigated if metabolite levels are related to cognitive aspects of DS. We analyzed the metabolomic profiles of plasma samples from 129 subjects with DS and 46 healthy control (CTRL) subjects by 1H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). Multivariate analysis of the NMR metabolomic profiles showed a clear discrimination (up to 94% accuracy) between the two groups. The univariate analysis revealed a significant alteration in 7 metabolites out of 28 assigned unambiguously. Correlations among the metabolite levels in DS and CTRL groups were separately investigated and statistically significant relationships appeared. On the contrary, statistically significant correlations among the NMR-detectable part of DS plasma metabolome and the different intelligence quotient ranges obtained by Griffiths-III or WPPSI-III tests were not found. Even if metabolic imbalance provides a clear discrimination between DS and CTRL groups, it appears that the investigated metabolomic profiles cannot be associated with the degree of ID.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Antonaros
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 8, 40126, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Veronica Ghini
- CIRMMP, Consorzio Interuniversitario Risonanze Magnetiche Metallo Proteine, via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, FI, Italy
| | - Francesca Pulina
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, PD, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Ramacieri
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 8, 40126, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Elena Cicchini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 8, 40126, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Elisa Mannini
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 8, 40126, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Anna Martelli
- Neonatology Unit, St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Agnese Feliciello
- Neonatology Unit, St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Silvia Lanfranchi
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, PD, Italy
| | - Sara Onnivello
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, PD, Italy
| | - Renzo Vianello
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padova, Via Venezia 8, 35131, Padova, PD, Italy
| | - Chiara Locatelli
- Neonatology Unit, St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Guido Cocchi
- Neonatology Unit, St. Orsola-Malpighi Polyclinic, Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences (DIMEC), University of Bologna, Via Massarenti 9, 40138, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Maria Chiara Pelleri
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 8, 40126, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Lorenza Vitale
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 8, 40126, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Pierluigi Strippoli
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 8, 40126, Bologna, BO, Italy
| | - Claudio Luchinat
- CERM, Center of Magnetic Resonance and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy
| | - Paola Turano
- CERM, Center of Magnetic Resonance and Department of Chemistry, University of Florence, via Luigi Sacconi 6, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino, Florence, Italy.
| | - Allison Piovesan
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 8, 40126, Bologna, BO, Italy.
| | - Maria Caracausi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied Biology, University of Bologna, Via Belmeloro 8, 40126, Bologna, BO, Italy
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75
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Abstract
Experimental work regarding corrective actions on chromosomes and genes, and control of gene products is yielding promising results. It opens the way to advances in dealing with the etiological aspects of Down syndrome and may lead to important changes in the life of individuals affected with this condition. A small number of molecules are being investigated in pharmacological research that may have positive effects on intellectual functioning. Studies of the pathological consequences of the amyloid cascade and the TAU pathology in the etiology of Alzheimer disease (AD), which is more frequent and occuring earlier in life in persons with Down syndrome (DS), are presented. The search for biological markers of AD and ways for constrasting its early manifestations are also discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jean A. Rondal
- University of Liège, Cognitive Sciences, Building 32, Sart Tilman, Liège 4000, Belgium
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76
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Lopes JBP, Miziara IM, Galli M, Cimolin V, Oliveira CS. Effect of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Xbox-Kinect Game Experience on Upper Limb Movement in Down Syndrome: A Case Report. Front Bioeng Biotechnol 2020; 8:514. [PMID: 32548102 PMCID: PMC7273846 DOI: 10.3389/fbioe.2020.00514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2019] [Accepted: 04/30/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique used to enhance local synaptic efficacy and modulate the electrical activity of the cortex in neurological disorders. Researchers have sought to combine this type of stimulation with well-established therapeutic modalities, such as motor training involving Xbox Kinect games, which has demonstrated promising results. Thus, this study aimed to determine whether tDCS can enhance upper limb motor training in an eight-year-old child with Down Syndrome (DS) (cognitive age: five years, based on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children). The evaluations consisted of three-dimensional analysis of upper limb kinematics during a reaching task performed before, after10 session, and one month after the intervention. The intervention protocol involved 1 20-min sessions of tDCS over the primary motor cortex at an intensity of 1 mA during Xbox Kinect game training involving an upper limb motor task. The analysis of the kinematic data revealed that in the pre-intervention evaluation, the dominant limb executed the task slowly and over a long path. These aspects improved at the post-intervention and follow-up evaluations, as demonstrated by the shorter total movement duration (3.05 vs. 1.58 vs. 1.52 s, respectively). Similar changes occurred with the non-dominant upper limb; a significant increase in movement velocity at the post-intervention and follow-up evaluations was observed (0.53 vs. 0.54 vs. 0.85 m/s, respectively). The present case report offers preliminary data from a protocol study, and the results confirm the notion that anodal tDCS combined with upper limb motor training leads to improvements in different kinematic variables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamile Benite Palma Lopes
- Health Sciences Program, Faculty of Medical Sciences of Santa Casa de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.,Undergraduate Department, Faculty of Taquaritinga - FTGA, Taquaritinga, Brazil
| | - Isabela Marques Miziara
- Undergraduate Department, Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Federal University of Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil.,Undergraduate Department, Faculty of Electrical and Biomedical Engineering, Federal University of Pará, Belém, Brazil
| | - Manuela Galli
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Veronica Cimolin
- Department of Electronics, Information and Bioengineering, Politecnico di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudia Santos Oliveira
- Program in Human Movement and Rehabilitation Center of Anápolis, Anápolis, Brazil.,Master's and Doctoral Program in Health Sciences, São Paulo Santa Casa School of Medical Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
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77
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Cho WK, Lee NY, Han K, Suh BK, Park YG. The Population Prevalence, Associations of Congenital Heart Defect and Mortality Risk for Down's Syndrome in South Korea Based on National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) Data. Clin Epidemiol 2020; 12:519-525. [PMID: 32547243 PMCID: PMC7266305 DOI: 10.2147/clep.s251637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In the present study, we estimated the population prevalence, associations of congenital heart defect (CHD) and mortality risk for DS using data from National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) and Rare Diseases Registry (RDR). Methods We collected data on subjects with DS who were registered in the RDR between 2010 and 2015. To estimate associations of CHD and mortality risk of DS, the data of DS subjects were compared with 1:5 age- and sex-matched controls. Results In 2015, 2077 individuals with DS were identified out of the total population of 51,574,044 South Koreans and the prevalence was 4.03 per 100,000 persons. The trend of DS population prevalence across 10-year-old intervals showed a peak in the group under the age of 10 years (26.0 per 100,000 persons) and then declined sharply after the age of 20 years (0.98 per 100,000 persons at 30-39 years of age). In subjects with DS, the frequencies of atrial septal defect [odds ratios (OR) =65.9; 95% CI, 84.1-99.1], ventricular septal defect (OR = 88.1, 95% CI, 57.9-134.1), patent ductus arteriosus (OR = 56.9, 95% CI, 40.1-80.8), tetralogy of fallot (OR = 42.1, 95% CI, 19.3-92.3), or atrioventricular septal defect (OR = 510.0, 95% CI, 126.7-999.0) were higher than those of age- and sex-matched controls. The risk of death in patients with DS was significantly higher than that of age- and sex-matched controls [hazard ratio (HR) =41.7, 95% CI 20.0-87.0]. Conclusion In South Korea, the DS population prevalence was 4.03 per 100,000 persons in 2015. The subjects with DS were more likely to accompany CHD and have higher mortality risk than healthy controls.
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Affiliation(s)
- Won Kyoung Cho
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Na Young Lee
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, St. Vincent's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Kyungdo Han
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Byung-Kyu Suh
- Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine, Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Gyu Park
- Department of Biostatistics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Republic of Korea
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78
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Neuroanatomical alterations in higher-order thalamic nuclei of fetuses with Down syndrome. Clin Neurol Neurosurg 2020; 194:105870. [PMID: 32480293 DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2020.105870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2020] [Revised: 04/20/2020] [Accepted: 04/22/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition characterized by cognitive disability starting from infancy. Children with DS exhibit deficits in several cognitive domains, including executive function, i.e., a set of cognitive processes that heavily depend on higher-order thalamic nuclei. The goal of this study was to establish whether executive function-related thalamic nuclei of fetuses with DS exhibit neuroanatomical alterations that may contribute to the defects in higher-order control processes seen in children with DS. PATIENTS AND METHODS In brain sections from fetuses with DS and control fetuses (gestational week 17-22), we evaluated the cellularity in the mediodorsal nucleus (MD), the centromedian nucleus (CM), and the parafascicular nucleus (PF) of the thalamus and the density of proliferating cells in the third ventricle. RESULTS We found that all three nuclei had a notably reduced cell density. This defect was associated with a reduced density of proliferating cells in the third ventricle, suggesting that the reduced cellularity in the MD, CM, and PF of fetuses with DS was due to neurogenesis impairment. The separate evaluation of projection neurons and interneurons in the MD, CM, and PF showed that in fetuses with DS the density of projection neurons was reduced, with no changes in interneuron density. CONCLUSION This study provides novel evidence for DS-linked cellularity alterations in the MD, CM, and PF and suggests that altered signal processing in these nuclei may be involved in the impairment in higher-order control processes observed in individuals with DS starting from infancy.
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79
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Channell MM. Cross-Sectional Trajectories of Mental State Language Development in Children With Down Syndrome. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY 2020; 29:760-775. [PMID: 32293911 PMCID: PMC7842864 DOI: 10.1044/2020_ajslp-19-00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/06/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Purpose This article (a) examined the cross-sectional trajectories of mental state language use in children with Down syndrome (DS) and (b) identified developmental factors associated with its use. Method Forty children with DS aged 6-11 years generated stories from a wordless picture book and completed an assessment battery of other linguistic, cognitive, and social-emotional skills. Their narratives were coded for mental state language density (the proportion of utterances containing mental state references) and diversity (the number of different mental state terms used). Results The emergence of mental state language use during narrative storytelling was observed across the sample; 0%-24% of children's utterances included references to mental states, and a variety of mental state terms were produced. Cross-sectional developmental trajectory analysis revealed that expressive vocabulary and morphosyntax were significantly related to increased mental state language density and diversity. Nonverbal emotion knowledge was significantly related to greater diversity of mental state terms used. Age and nonverbal cognition were not significant factors. Conclusions This first in-depth, within-syndrome characterization of mental state language use by school-age children with DS provides an important next step for understanding mental state and narrative development in this population. By identifying skills associated with the development of mental state language, this study provides an avenue for future longitudinal research to determine causal relationships, ultimately informing intervention efforts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Moore Channell
- Department of Speech & Hearing Science, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
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80
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Roch M, Pesciarelli F, Leo I. How Individuals With Down Syndrome Process Faces and Words Conveying Emotions? Evidence From a Priming Paradigm. Front Psychol 2020; 11:692. [PMID: 32362859 PMCID: PMC7180333 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2020.00692] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Emotion recognition from facial expressions and words conveying emotions is considered crucial for the development of interpersonal relations (Pochon and Declercq, 2013). Although Down syndrome (DS) has received growing attention in the last two decades, emotional development has remained underexplored, perhaps because of the stereotype of high sociability in persons with DS. Yet recently, there is some literature that is suggesting the existence of specific deficits in emotion recognition in DS. The current study aimed to expand our knowledge on how individuals with DS process emotion expressions from faces and words by adopting a powerful methodological paradigm, namely priming. The purpose is to analyse to what extent emotion recognition in DS can occur through different processes than in typical development. Individuals with DS (N = 20) were matched to a control group (N = 20) on vocabulary knowledge (PPTV) and non-verbal ability (Raven’s matrices). Subsequently a priming paradigm was adopted: stimuli were photos of faces with different facial expressions (happy, sad, neutral) and three words (happy, sad, neutral). On a computer screen the first item (face or word) was presented for a very short time (prime) and afterward a stimulus (face or word) appeared (target). Participants had to recognize whether the target was an emotion (sad/happy) or not (neutral). Four prime-target pairs were presented (face-word; word-face; word-word; face-word) in two conditions: congruent (same emotion prime/target) and incongruent (different emotion prime/target). The results failed to show evidence for differential processing during emotion recognition between the two groups matched for verbal and non-verbal abilities. Both groups showed a typical priming effect: In the incongruent condition, slower reaction times were recorded, in particular when the target to be recognized is the face, providing evidence that the stimuli were indeed processed. Overall, the data of the current work seem to support the idea of similar developmental trajectories in individuals with DS and TD of the same verbal and non-verbal level, at least as far as the processing of simple visual and linguistic stimuli conveying basic emotions is concerned. Results are interpreted in relation to recent finding on emotion recognition from faces and words in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maja Roch
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Francesca Pesciarelli
- Department of Biomedical, Metabolic and Neural Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy.,Center for Neuroscience and Neurotechnology, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Modena, Italy
| | - Irene Leo
- Department of Developmental Psychology and Socialization, University of Padua, Padua, Italy
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81
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A Behavioural Assessment of Social Anxiety and Social Motivation in Fragile X, Cornelia de Lange and Rubinstein-Taybi Syndromes. J Autism Dev Disord 2020; 50:127-144. [PMID: 31541420 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04232-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Unique socio-behavioural phenotypes are reported for individuals with different neurodevelopmental disorders. Here, the effects of adult familiarity and nature of interaction on social anxiety and social motivation were investigated in individuals with fragile X (FXS; n = 20), Cornelia de Lange (CdLS; n = 20) and Rubinstein-Taybi (RTS; n = 20) syndromes, compared to individuals with Down syndrome (DS; n = 20). The Social Anxiety and Motivation Rating Scale was employed whilst participants completed four social tasks, each administered separately by a familiar adult, and also by an unfamiliar adult. Compared to participants with DS, those with FXS and RTS exhibited high levels of social anxiety but similar levels of social motivation. Participants with CdLS showed heightened social anxiety and reduced social motivation only during interactions with an unfamiliar adult when active participation was voluntary.
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82
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Mason-Apps E, Stojanovik V, Houston-Price C, Seager E, Buckley S. Do Infants With Down Syndrome Show an Early Receptive Language Advantage? JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2020; 63:585-598. [PMID: 32091963 DOI: 10.1044/2019_jslhr-19-00157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Purpose The study explored longitudinally the course of vocabulary and general language development in a group of infants with Down syndrome (DS) compared to a group of typically developing (TD) infants matched on nonverbal mental ability (NVMA). Method We compared the vocabulary and general language trajectories of the two groups in two ways: (a) at three time points during a 12-month period and (b) at two time points when the groups had made equal progress in NVMA (a period of 6 months for the TD infants vs. 12 months for the infants with DS). Results The TD group had overtaken the DS group on all general language and vocabulary measures by the end of the 12-month period. However, expressive communication and expressive vocabulary were developing at the same rate and level in the two groups when examined over a period in which the two groups were matched in gains in NVMA. Furthermore, the infants with DS showed a receptive language advantage over the TD group; this group's auditory comprehension and receptive vocabulary scores were superior to those of the TD group at both time points when NVMA was accounted for. Conclusion The results shed light on the widely reported discrepancy between expressive and receptive language in individuals with DS. Although infants with DS appear to be developing language skills more slowly than chronological age TD peers, when NVMA is taken into account, infants with DS do not have expressive language delays, and they seem to show a receptive language advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily Mason-Apps
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, United Kingdom
- Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom
| | - Vesna Stojanovik
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Carmel Houston-Price
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Emily Seager
- School of Psychology and Clinical Language Sciences, University of Reading, United Kingdom
| | - Sue Buckley
- Department of Psychology, University of Portsmouth, United Kingdom
- Down Syndrome Education International, Cumbria, United Kingdom
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83
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da Cruz Netto OL, Rodrigues SCM, de Castro MV, da Silva DP, da Silva RR, de Souza RRB, de Souza AAF, Bissaco MAS. Memorization of daily routines by children with Down syndrome assisted by a playful virtual environment. Sci Rep 2020; 10:3144. [PMID: 32081920 PMCID: PMC7035352 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-60014-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2018] [Accepted: 02/05/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
A child with Down syndrome, like any other child, may benefit from interacting with memory stimuli, but needs additional support and help. The use of special teaching methods, which add playfulness and use of the computer, can enhance the memory processes of these children. In this work, we present the virtual environment "Nossa Vida (Our Life)", which was developed to assist children with Down syndrome to memorize action sequences of their daily routine. A daily routine memorization test (DRMT), consisting of a weekly reminder of typical daily routines completed by the children and parents, was performed before (pre-test) and after (post-test) the intervention. The work involved a multidisciplinary team and assessed the effectiveness of the test performed by 30 children with Down syndrome from APAE, a special education school for children with intellectual disabilities in São Paulo, Brazil. The children were separated into two groups (Experimental - GE and Control - GC) with homogeneity and normality of the data. Two hypotheses were tested in this study: H0 and H1, where: H0 = There is no statistical difference between memorizing daily tasks between individuals with Down syndrome who used our ludic virtual environment and those who used the conventional memory method.H1 = There is a difference between the group of subjects with Down Syndrome who used our virtual game environment and the group that did not use it in relation to memorizing the daily task. This produces t = -14.98 and p <0.0001, with H1 being accepted. The results showed that the EG presented significance in relation to the CG and the evolution mean of the children in the EG was 81.82% higher. According to experts (psychologist and pedagogue) from APAE and parents, the playful activities implemented in this virtual environment have been of great interest to children, who had fun, tested hypotheses and questioned them about the sequences of actions performed in their routine daily.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ovidio Lopes da Cruz Netto
- Technological Research Center, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
- Nove de Julho University (UNINOVE), São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Silvia Cristina Martini Rodrigues
- Technological Research Center, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
- Postgraduate Programme in Biomedical Engineering, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Diego Pereira da Silva
- Technological Research Center, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
- Postgraduate Programme in Biomedical Engineering, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
| | - Robson Rodrigues da Silva
- Technological Research Center, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
- Postgraduate Programme in Biomedical Engineering, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
| | - Richard Ribeiro Brancato de Souza
- Technological Research Center, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
- Postgraduate Programme in Biomedical Engineering, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil
- Behavior Analysis Core, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | | | - Marcia Aparecida Silva Bissaco
- Technological Research Center, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil.
- Postgraduate Programme in Biomedical Engineering, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil.
- Professional Master's program in Health Science and Technology, University of Mogi das Cruzes, Mogi das Cruzes, SP, Brazil.
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84
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Quinn ED, Kaiser AP, Ledford JR. Teaching Preschoolers With Down Syndrome Using Augmentative and Alternative Communication Modeling During Small Group Dialogic Reading. AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGY 2020; 29:80-100. [PMID: 31697898 PMCID: PMC8645247 DOI: 10.1044/2019_ajslp-19-0017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2019] [Revised: 05/02/2019] [Accepted: 08/01/2019] [Indexed: 05/10/2023]
Abstract
Purpose This study evaluated the effect of aided augmentative and alternative communication modeling (AAC-MOD) on the communication skills of children with Down syndrome (DS) during small group dialogic reading. Method Four children with DS between 3;1 and 5;3 (years;months; M = 4;5) and 5 typically developing peers between 3;5 and 5;9 (M = 4;3) participated. Effects were examined using a multiple probe across behaviors design with 4 children with DS. To simulate typical dialogic reading routines in inclusive classrooms, a strategy called Read, Ask, Answer, Prompt (Binger, Kent-Walsh, Ewing, & Taylor, 2010) was applied during the baseline and intervention sessions. Results A functional relation was demonstrated between (a) AAC-MOD and percentage of correctly identified symbols for 3 participants, (b) AAC-MOD and rate of symbolic communication for 2 participants, and (c) AAC-MOD and number of different words for 2 participants. Increases in number of multiple word combinations occurred for 2 participants. All 4 children maintained their percentage of correctly identified symbols. Increases in rate of symbolic communication did not generalize to thematic play contexts, a distal measure of response generalization. Conclusion AAC-MOD is an effective strategy for teaching target vocabulary and increasing rate of symbolic communication in young children with DS. Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.10093538.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily D. Quinn
- Department of Pediatrics, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland
| | - Ann P. Kaiser
- Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN
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85
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Different abilities needed at home and school: The relation between executive function and adaptive behaviour in adolescents with Down syndrome. Sci Rep 2020; 10:1683. [PMID: 32015371 PMCID: PMC6997420 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-58409-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Studies have shown that executive function abilities are related and have predictive power over adaptive behaviour in both typical and atypical populations. This study examined the relationship between executive functioning and adaptive behaviour in adolescents with Down syndrome, as it has not been studied before in this population. We propose and test a model of how each core EF (i.e., working memory, inhibition, and flexibility) contributes to each domain of AB (i.e., conceptual, social, and practical). We found that parent reported Conceptual skills were related to working memory, while teacher reported Conceptual and Practical skills were related to inhibition and flexibility. We hypothesise that these findings are related to the different requirements and expectations of the home and school environments: the more predictable home environment requires the adolescent to rely on working memory for his everyday activities, while the changing and challenging school environment requires the inhibition common behaviours and to flexibly change actions to be successful.
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86
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Andreou G, Chartomatsidou E. A Review Paper on the Syntactic Abilities of Individuals with Down Syndrome. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2020. [DOI: 10.4236/ojml.2020.105029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
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87
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Habib-Hasan Z, Sheikh MS, Hoodbhoy Z, Azam I, O'Neil M. Early intervention physical therapy using "Parent Empowerment Program" for children with Down syndrome in Pakistan: A feasibility study. J Pediatr Rehabil Med 2020; 13:233-240. [PMID: 32716332 DOI: 10.3233/prm-190605] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and effectiveness of the Parent Empowerment Program (PEP) to help caretakers deliver a home program to promote developmental activities and gross motor function in their children with Down syndrome. METHODS Parents attended a 14-month program with training sessions 1-4 times a month. Outcomes were measured using a change in the Gross Motor Function Measure (GMFM-88) at baseline and assessment one. RESULTS Forty-eight families participated in the PEP. Children's mean age was 16.2 ± 10.8 months. There were significant changes in GMFM-88 scores between baseline and assessment one; t (30) =-9.158, p< 0.001; 95% CI -14.6 - -22.9. Previous hospitalization significantly affected GMFM scores. CONCLUSION This study describes a clinically applied research that focuses on program design, development and evaluation. Findings indicate that the PEP is effective in improving gross motor function in children with Down's syndrome in Pakistan. Parents were satisfied with the program outcomes and were able to cope with the requirements at home. The PEP had favorable outcomes and may be an effective method to support PT services in resource poor countries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zehra Habib-Hasan
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | | | - Zahra Hoodbhoy
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Iqbal Azam
- Department of Community Health Sciences, The Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Margaret O'Neil
- Department of Rehabilitation and Regenerative Medicine, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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88
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Bang JY, Adiao AS, Marchman VA, Feldman HM. Language nutrition for language health in children with disorders: a scoping review. Pediatr Res 2020; 87:300-308. [PMID: 31454828 PMCID: PMC6962542 DOI: 10.1038/s41390-019-0551-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2019] [Revised: 08/09/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
The quantity and quality of child-directed speech-language nutrition-provided to typically-developing children is associated with language outcomes-language health. Limited information is available about child-directed speech to children at biological risk of language impairments. We conducted a scoping review on caregiver child-directed speech for children with three clinical conditions associated with language impairments-preterm birth, intellectual disability, and autism-addressing three questions: (1) How does child-directed speech to these children differ from speech to typically-developing children? (2) What are the associations between child-directed speech and child language outcomes? (3) How convincing are intervention studies that aim to improve child-directed speech and thereby facilitate children's language development? We identified 635 potential studies and reviewed 57 meeting study criteria. Child-directed speech to children with all conditions was comparable to speech to language-matched children; caregivers were more directive toward children with disorders. Most associations between child-directed speech and outcomes were positive. However, several interventions had minimal effects on child language. Trials with large samples, intensive interventions, and multiple data sources are needed to evaluate child-directed speech as a means to prevent language impairment. Clinicians should counsel caregivers to use high quality child-directed speech and responsive communication styles with children with these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janet Y Bang
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Aubrey S Adiao
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Virginia A Marchman
- Department of Psychology, School of Humanities and Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Heidi M Feldman
- Department of Pediatrics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA.
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89
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Aberrant Oligodendrogenesis in Down Syndrome: Shift in Gliogenesis? Cells 2019; 8:cells8121591. [PMID: 31817891 PMCID: PMC6953000 DOI: 10.3390/cells8121591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Revised: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), or trisomy 21, is the most prevalent chromosomal anomaly accounting for cognitive impairment and intellectual disability (ID). Neuropathological changes of DS brains are characterized by a reduction in the number of neurons and oligodendrocytes, accompanied by hypomyelination and astrogliosis. Recent studies mainly focused on neuronal development in DS, but underestimated the role of glial cells as pathogenic players. Aberrant or impaired differentiation within the oligodendroglial lineage and altered white matter functionality are thought to contribute to central nervous system (CNS) malformations. Given that white matter, comprised of oligodendrocytes and their myelin sheaths, is vital for higher brain function, gathering knowledge about pathways and modulators challenging oligodendrogenesis and cell lineages within DS is essential. This review article discusses to what degree DS-related effects on oligodendroglial cells have been described and presents collected evidence regarding induced cell-fate switches, thereby resulting in an enhanced generation of astrocytes. Moreover, alterations in white matter formation observed in mouse and human post-mortem brains are described. Finally, the rationale for a better understanding of pathways and modulators responsible for the glial cell imbalance as a possible source for future therapeutic interventions is given based on current experience on pro-oligodendroglial treatment approaches developed for demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis.
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90
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Chiotto AMA, Migliorero M, Pallavicini G, Bianchi FT, Gai M, Di Cunto F, Berto GE. Neuronal Cell-Intrinsic Defects in Mouse Models of Down Syndrome. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1081. [PMID: 31649502 PMCID: PMC6795679 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Down Syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic disorder associated with intellectual disability (ID). Excitatory neurons of DS patients and mouse models show decreased size of dendritic field and reduction of spine density. Whether these defects are caused by cell autonomous alterations or by abnormal multicellular circuitry is still unknown. In this work, we explored this issue by culturing cortical neurons obtained from two mouse models of DS: the widely used Ts65Dn and the less characterized Ts2Cje. We observed that, in the in vitro conditions, axon specification and elongation, as well as dendritogenesis, take place without evident abnormalities, indicating that the initial phases of neuronal differentiation do not suffer from the presence of an imbalanced genetic dosage. Conversely, our analysis highlighted differences between trisomic and euploid neurons in terms of reduction of spine density, in accordance with in vivo data obtained by other groups, proposing the presence of a cell-intrinsic malfunction. This work suggests that the characteristic morphological defects of DS neurons are likely to be caused by the possible combination of cell-intrinsic defects together with cell-extrinsic cues. Additionally, our data support the possibility of using the more sustainable line Ts2Cje as a standard model for the study of DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Maria Adelaide Chiotto
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Martina Migliorero
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Gianmarco Pallavicini
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | | | - Marta Gai
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Ferdinando Di Cunto
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
| | - Gaia Elena Berto
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, University of Turin, Turin, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Turin, Turin, Italy
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91
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Singletary B. What are the benefits of having a village? Effects of allomaternal care on communicative skills in early infancy. Infant Behav Dev 2019; 57:101361. [PMID: 31491616 DOI: 10.1016/j.infbeh.2019.101361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 07/31/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
This study investigates whether exposure to allomaternal care (AMC-care for infants from individuals other than the mother) improves rates of communicative behaviors during late infancy by providing more opportunities to practice communicating with varied caregivers. Data were collected from 102 typically-developing infants aged 13-18 months and their mothers. AMC variables were collected using a current care questionnaire, structured 14-day diary, and longitudinal interview. Communicative behaviors were assessed through post hoc microcoding of in-lab administrations of the Early Social Communication Scales (ESCS), as well as additional microcoding of the Bayley III Screening Cognitive Subtest. Demographic covariates were also included. For each communicative behavior, backward model selection was used to determine the best fitting linear regression model. Results suggested that rates of turn-taking decreased with Household AMC (p < 0.008), but increased with two or more siblings present at home (p < 0.01). Conversely, rates of spontaneous giving increased with Household AMC (p < 0.003) regardless of the presence of siblings. Notably, exposure to more AMC was neither helpful nor harmful for many of the tested communicative behaviors, although the number of siblings present was significantly related to rates of following commands, as well as pointing and reaching. Ultimately, this study suggests that household level experiences with AMC, rather than formalized care, impact the development of some communicative behaviors during late infancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Britt Singletary
- School of Anthropology, University of Arizona, 1009 East South Campus Dr., P.O. Box 210030, Tucson, AZ 85721-0030, United States.
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92
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Hamburg S, Lowe B, Startin CM, Padilla C, Coppus A, Silverman W, Fortea J, Zaman S, Head E, Handen BL, Lott I, Song W, Strydom A. Assessing general cognitive and adaptive abilities in adults with Down syndrome: a systematic review. J Neurodev Disord 2019; 11:20. [PMID: 31470792 PMCID: PMC6716931 DOI: 10.1186/s11689-019-9279-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2018] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Measures of general cognitive and adaptive ability in adults with Down syndrome (DS) used by previous studies vary substantially. This review summarises the different ability measures used previously, focusing on tests of intelligence quotient (IQ) and adaptive behaviour (AB), and where possible examines floor effects and differences between DS subpopulations. We aimed to use information regarding existing measures to provide recommendations for individual researchers and the DS research community. RESULTS Nineteen studies reporting IQ test data met inclusion for this review, with 17 different IQ tests used. Twelve of these IQ tests were used in only one study while five were used in two different studies. Eleven studies reporting AB test data met inclusion for this review, with seven different AB tests used. The only AB scales to be used by more than one study were the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale (VABS; used by three studies) and the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scale 2nd Edition (VABS-II; used by two studies). A variety of additional factors were identified which make comparison of test scores between studies problematic, including different score types provided between studies (e.g. raw scores compared to age-equivalent scores) and different participant inclusion criteria (e.g. whether individuals with cognitive decline were excluded). Floor effects were common for IQ tests (particularly for standardised test scores). Data exists to suggest that floor effects may be minimised by the use of raw test scores rather than standardised test scores. Raw scores may, therefore, be particularly useful in longitudinal studies to track change in cognitive ability over time. CONCLUSIONS Studies assessing general ability in adults with DS are likely to benefit from the use of both IQ and AB scales. The DS research community may benefit from the development of reporting standards for IQ and AB data, and from the sharing of raw study data enabling further in-depth investigation of issues highlighted by this review.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Hamburg
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, SE5 8AF UK
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, W1T 7NF UK
- The London Down Syndrome Consortium (LonDownS), London, UK
| | - Bryony Lowe
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, W1T 7NF UK
- The London Down Syndrome Consortium (LonDownS), London, UK
- Department of Psychology, Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leicestershire LE11 3TU UK
| | - Carla Marie Startin
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, SE5 8AF UK
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, W1T 7NF UK
- The London Down Syndrome Consortium (LonDownS), London, UK
| | - Concepcion Padilla
- Department of Psychiatry, Herchel Smith Building for Brain & Mind Sciences, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ UK
| | - Antonia Coppus
- Dichterbij, Center for Intellectual Disabilities, Gennep, The Netherlands
- Department of Primary and Community Care, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Wayne Silverman
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Juan Fortea
- Memory Unit, Department of Neurology, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau–Biomedical Research Institute Sant Pau, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Barcelona Down Medical Center, Fundació Catalana de Síndrome de Down, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Neurodegenerativas, CIBERNED, Madrid, Spain
| | - Shahid Zaman
- Department of Psychiatry, Herchel Smith Building for Brain & Mind Sciences, Forvie Site, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0SZ UK
| | - Elizabeth Head
- Sanders-Brown Center on Aging, University of Kentucky, 800 South Limestone Street, Lexington, KY 40536-0230 USA
| | - Benjamin L. Handen
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213 USA
| | - Ira Lott
- Departments of Pediatrics and Neurology, University of California, Irvine, USA
| | - Weihong Song
- Townsend Family Laboratories, Department of Psychiatry, The University of British Columbia, 2255 Wesbrook Mall, Vancouver, BC V6T 1Z3 Canada
| | - André Strydom
- Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Sciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, SE5 8AF UK
- Division of Psychiatry, University College London, London, W1T 7NF UK
- The London Down Syndrome Consortium (LonDownS), London, UK
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93
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Van Herwegen J, Ashworth M, Palikara O. Views of professionals about the educational needs of children with neurodevelopmental disorders. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2019; 91:103422. [PMID: 31247387 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2019.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Revised: 05/03/2019] [Accepted: 05/11/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Professionals play a key role in supporting children with special educational needs in schools. However, the views of those working with neurodevelopmental disorders are less known. AIMS This study examined the views of professionals (including teachers, teaching assistants, educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, physio and occupational therapists etc.) working with children with Williams Syndrome (WS), Down Syndrome (DS) or with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) in terms of how informed professionals are about the disorder and their views about the type of support these children need to be receiving. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Professionals working with 77 children with ASD, 26 with DS and 38 with WS completed an online questionnaire. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS Professionals in all three groups highlighted relevant areas of difficulty for these children, but they did not recognise some of the less phenotypical difficulties that children with a specific disorder may experience. In addition, there was a disconnect between the difficulties identified by the professionals and the type of specialist support that may be necessary. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Although professionals have a lot of knowledge about the specific neurodevelopmental disorders, further evidence-based training would allow more effective support for children with neurodevelopmental disorders in the classroom but also equip professionals better and raise their confidence in meeting these children's needs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jo Van Herwegen
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, United Kingdom.
| | - Maria Ashworth
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, United Kingdom
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Baburamani AA, Patkee PA, Arichi T, Rutherford MA. New approaches to studying early brain development in Down syndrome. Dev Med Child Neurol 2019; 61:867-879. [PMID: 31102269 PMCID: PMC6618001 DOI: 10.1111/dmcn.14260] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Down syndrome is the most common genetic developmental disorder in humans and is caused by partial or complete triplication of human chromosome 21 (trisomy 21). It is a complex condition which results in multiple lifelong health problems, including varying degrees of intellectual disability and delays in speech, memory, and learning. As both length and quality of life are improving for individuals with Down syndrome, attention is now being directed to understanding and potentially treating the associated cognitive difficulties and their underlying biological substrates. These have included imaging and postmortem studies which have identified decreased regional brain volumes and histological anomalies that accompany early onset dementia. In addition, advances in genome-wide analysis and Down syndrome mouse models are providing valuable insight into potential targets for intervention that could improve neurogenesis and long-term cognition. As little is known about early brain development in human Down syndrome, we review recent advances in magnetic resonance imaging that allow non-invasive visualization of brain macro- and microstructure, even in utero. It is hoped that together these advances may enable Down syndrome to become one of the first genetic disorders to be targeted by antenatal treatments designed to 'normalize' brain development. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: Magnetic resonance imaging can provide non-invasive characterization of early brain development in Down syndrome. Down syndrome mouse models enable study of underlying pathology and potential intervention strategies. Potential therapies could modify brain structure and improve early cognitive levels. Down syndrome may be the first genetic disorder to have targeted therapies which alter antenatal brain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana A Baburamani
- Centre for the Developing BrainDepartment of Perinatal Imaging and HealthSchool of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging SciencesKing's College LondonKing's Health PartnersSt Thomas’ HospitalLondonUK
| | - Prachi A Patkee
- Centre for the Developing BrainDepartment of Perinatal Imaging and HealthSchool of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging SciencesKing's College LondonKing's Health PartnersSt Thomas’ HospitalLondonUK
| | - Tomoki Arichi
- Centre for the Developing BrainDepartment of Perinatal Imaging and HealthSchool of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging SciencesKing's College LondonKing's Health PartnersSt Thomas’ HospitalLondonUK,Department of BioengineeringImperial College LondonLondonUK,Children's NeurosciencesEvelina London Children's HospitalLondonUK
| | - Mary A Rutherford
- Centre for the Developing BrainDepartment of Perinatal Imaging and HealthSchool of Biomedical Engineering & Imaging SciencesKing's College LondonKing's Health PartnersSt Thomas’ HospitalLondonUK
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95
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Learning Prosody in a Video Game-Based Learning Approach. MULTIMODAL TECHNOLOGIES AND INTERACTION 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/mti3030051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
With the growth in popularity of video games in our society many teachers have worked to incorporate gaming into their classroom. It is generally agreed that by adding something fun to the learning process students become more engaged and, consequently, retain more knowledge. However, although the characteristics of video games facilitate the dynamics of the educational process it is necessary to plan a pedagogical project that includes delimitation of learning goals and profile of the addressees, the conditions of application of the educational project, and the methodologies of evaluation of the learning progress. This is how we can make a real difference between gamification and video game based learning. The paper addresses the design of an educational resource for special education needs (SEN) students that aims to help teach communicative skills related to prosody. The technological choices made to support the pedagogic issues that underlie the educational product, the strategies to convert learning content into playful material, and the methodology to obtain measures of its playability and effectiveness are described. The results of the motivation test certified that the video game is useful in encouraging the users to exercise their voice and the indicators of the degree of achievement of the learning goals serve to identify the most affected prosodic skills.
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96
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Characteristics Associated with Autism Spectrum Disorder Risk in Individuals with Down Syndrome. J Autism Dev Disord 2019; 49:3543-3556. [DOI: 10.1007/s10803-019-04074-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
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97
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Wester Oxelgren U, Myrelid Å, Annerén G, Westerlund J, Gustafsson J, Fernell E. More severe intellectual disability found in teenagers compared to younger children with Down syndrome. Acta Paediatr 2019; 108:961-966. [PMID: 30372566 DOI: 10.1111/apa.14624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Revised: 09/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
AIM We investigated the severities and profiles of intellectual disability (ID) in a population-based group of children with Down syndrome and related the findings to coexisting autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). METHODS There were about 100 children with Down syndrome living in Uppsala County, Sweden, at the time of the study who all received medical services from the same specialist outpatient clinic. The 60 children (68% male) were aged 5-17 years at inclusion: 41 were assessed within the study and 19 had test results from previous assessments, performed within three years before inclusion. We compared two age groups: 5-12 and 13-18 years old. RESULTS Of the 60 children, 49 were assessed with a cognitive test and the 11 children who could not participate in formal tests had clinical assessments. Mild ID was found in 9% of the older children and in 35% of the younger children. Severe ID was found in 91% of the older children and 65% of the younger children. Verbal and nonverbal domains did not differ. CONCLUSION Intellectual level was lower in the older children and patients with Down syndrome need to be followed during childhood with regard to their ID levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Åsa Myrelid
- Department of Women's and Children's Health Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden
| | - Göran Annerén
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology Science for Life Laboratory Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden
| | - Joakim Westerlund
- Department of Psychology Stockholm University Stockholm Sweden
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre Department of Neuroscience and Physiology Gothenburg University Gothenburg Sweden
| | - Jan Gustafsson
- Department of Women's and Children's Health Uppsala University Uppsala Sweden
| | - Elisabeth Fernell
- Gillberg Neuropsychiatry Centre Department of Neuroscience and Physiology Gothenburg University Gothenburg Sweden
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98
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Hessling A, Brimo DM. Spoken fictional narrative and literacy skills of children with Down syndrome. JOURNAL OF COMMUNICATION DISORDERS 2019; 79:76-89. [PMID: 30903952 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcomdis.2019.03.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2017] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Children with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit below average nonverbal intelligence and impaired language skills; however, their spoken narrative production is a relative strength. AIMS We examined expressive language skills produced during fictional narrative retells and analyzed the unique contribution of expressive language skills to word-level reading and reading comprehension of children with DS. METHODS AND PROCEDURES The microstructure and macrostructure of fifteen, 8- to 18-year-old children with DS's narrative retells were analyzed. Receptive vocabulary, word-level reading, and reading comprehension also were measured. RESULTS Narrative microstructure analyses revealed restricted syntactic and semantic diversity. Further analyses of sentence complexity revealed that children with DS predominately produced prepositional phrases and produced more verbs than nouns. Narrative macrostructure analysis revealed participants use of episodic components; however, their stories did not include mental state references. Narrative microstructure contributed unique variance to word-level reading, whereas narrative macrostructure contributed unique variance to word-level reading and reading comprehension. Additionally, strong correlations were found between narrative skills and literacy skills. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS Findings from this study support the use of narrative microstructure and macrostructure analyses as a valuable clinical tool to guide assessment and intervention planning for school-aged children with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alison Hessling
- Department of Hearing and Speech Sciences, Vanderbilt University, 1215 21st Ave S, 8310 MCE, South Tower, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
| | - Danielle M Brimo
- Davies School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Texas Christian University, TCU Box 297450, Fort Worth, TX 76129, USA.
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99
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Sabat C, Tassé M, Tenorio M. Adaptive Behavior and Intelligence in Adolescents With Down Syndrome: An Exploratory Investigation. INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2019; 57:79-94. [PMID: 30920913 DOI: 10.1352/1934-9556-57.2.79] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is characterized by difficulties in both intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior. These sets of abilities are considered as separate but related domains with small to moderate correlations. The main objective of this study was to explore the relationship of intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior in adolescents with DS because previous studies have shown different relationship patterns between these constructs across other syndromes. Fifty-three adolescents with DS were assessed regarding their intellectual functioning whereas adaptive behavior was reported by parents and teachers. Participants showed a better performance on verbal than nonverbal tasks when assessing intellectual functioning, contrary to previous findings. Regarding adaptive behavior, higher social skills were reported than conceptual and practical skills. Intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior showed a medium correlation, consistent with observations in typical population. These results support the exploration of the variability across the DS phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Sabat
- Camila Sabat, School of Psychology, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile; Marc Tassé, Nisonger Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; and Marcela Tenorio, School of Psychology, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marc Tassé
- Camila Sabat, School of Psychology, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile; Marc Tassé, Nisonger Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; and Marcela Tenorio, School of Psychology, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
| | - Marcela Tenorio
- Camila Sabat, School of Psychology, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile; Marc Tassé, Nisonger Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH; and Marcela Tenorio, School of Psychology, Universidad de los Andes, Santiago, Chile
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100
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MARTÍN-URDA RODRÍGUEZ L, CARCHENILLA MARTÍN T, MORALEDA SEPÚLVEDA E. Eficacia de la intervención lingüística en adolescentes con síndrome de Down. SIGLO CERO REVISTA ESPAÑOLA SOBRE DISCAPACIDAD INTELECTUAL 2019. [DOI: 10.14201/scero20195014352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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