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Robles-Bello MA, Barba-Colmenero F, Valencia-Naranjo N, Sánchez-Teruel D. The validity of learning potential for predicting educational adjustment in preschoolers with Down syndrome: A longitudinal study. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES : JOID 2024:17446295241239984. [PMID: 38498696 DOI: 10.1177/17446295241239984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Learning Potential tests aim to assess cognitive functioning using mediation strategies by observing subsequent changes in learning patterns. In this study, this methodology was applied with the Preschool Learning Potential and Abilities Scale and two additional tests, the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test and the Battery of Aptitudes for School Learning I, to a total of 58 children with Down Syndrome, at four and six years of age. The results demonstrate improvements in general intelligence, learning potential, and school aptitudes between the two timepoints. There was a significant, positive relationship between the variables measured in the different tests, as well as on the predictive variables of school aptitudes, in these children at six years of age. There is evidence that supports the use of this dynamic evaluation methodology, opening new fields of action in child evaluation processes.
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Bracken A, Hauss J, Grinshpun S, Lasc D, Hershkovich A, Yang Y. A profile of spatial abilities in people with Down syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2024; 68:223-236. [PMID: 38072820 PMCID: PMC10872588 DOI: 10.1111/jir.13111] [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: 07/19/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/07/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Spatial abilities are fundamental cognitive abilities, have direct applications in daily life, serve as a cognitive foundation for many other complex skills and are used in many specialty jobs. The current study aimed to systematically and comprehensively evaluate the spatial abilities of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) relative to mental ability-matched typically developing (TD) children based on Newcombe and Shipley's double-dimension theoretical framework for classifying spatial abilities. METHODS Forty adolescents and young adults with DS and 40 TD children completed a nonverbal intelligence test (Raven's), two measures of static-extrinsic skills (water-level task and cart task), two measures of static-intrinsic skills (figure ground and form completion), two measures of dynamic-extrinsic skills (three mountains task and dog task) and two measures of dynamic-intrinsic spatial skills (mental rotation task and block design task). RESULTS Participants with DS showed reduced performance on two dynamic-intrinsic tasks and one static-extrinsic task (i.e. cart task) relative to TD children. Performances were similar in two dynamic-extrinsic tasks and two static-intrinsic tasks. Analyses of composite accuracy for each spatial category further confirmed deficits in dynamic-intrinsic and static-extrinsic categories for people with DS relative to TD children. CONCLUSIONS Our results showed an uneven profile of spatial abilities in people with DS relative to ability-matched TD children with particular weaknesses in comprehending and manipulating dynamic-intrinsic and static-extrinsic spatial relations. Furthermore, our research has important clinical implications for more targeted interventions to improve spatial abilities in people with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Bracken
- Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA
| | - J Hauss
- Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA
- Department of Psychology, Rutgers University - New Brunswick, New Brunswick, NJ, USA
| | - S Grinshpun
- Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA
| | - D Lasc
- Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA
| | - A Hershkovich
- Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA
| | - Y Yang
- Department of Psychology, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ, USA
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Mero Piedra AL, Pesthy O, Marton K. Effects of a physical education intervention on attention and inhibitory control in Ecuadorian children with intellectual disabilities. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES : JOID 2024; 28:261-274. [PMID: 37458606 DOI: 10.1177/17446295231189018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/08/2023]
Abstract
Background: Studies on physical activity interventions indicated a facilitative effect on cognitive performance in persons with intellectual disabilities; however, research is scarce, especially in low/middle-income countries. Aim: We explored the effects of a 6-week enriched physical education program on inhibitory control and attention functions in Ecuadorian children with intellectual disabilities. Methods: Thirty children with mild intellectual disabilities (10-14 years old) were randomly assigned to an intervention or control group. Before and after the intervention, attention and inhibitory control were measured using computer-based nonverbal tasks. Results: The findings showed significantly more accurate and faster responses in the vigilance task in the intervention group than in the controls. There were no significant intervention-related changes in inhibitory control; however, there were more prominent accuracy tendencies toward improvement in the intervention group. Conclusions: Results provide evidence of the potential of physical activity programs to enhance attention in this population, which could serve as a mediator for inhibitory control.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Orsolya Pesthy
- Institute of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Doctoral School of Psychology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Klara Marton
- MTA-ELTE Language-Learning Disorders Research Group, Bárczi Gusztáv Faculty of Special Needs Education, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary; Brooklyn College, City University of New York, Brooklyn, NY, USA; Graduate School and University Center, City University of New York, New York, NY, USA
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Faralli A, Fucà E, Lazzaro G, Menghini D, Vicari S, Costanzo F. Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in neurogenetic syndromes: new treatment perspectives for Down syndrome? Front Cell Neurosci 2024; 18:1328963. [PMID: 38456063 PMCID: PMC10917937 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2024.1328963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024] Open
Abstract
This perspective review aims to explore the potential neurobiological mechanisms involved in the application of transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Down syndrome (DS), the leading cause of genetically-based intellectual disability. The neural mechanisms underlying tDCS interventions in genetic disorders, typically characterized by cognitive deficits, are grounded in the concept of brain plasticity. We initially present the neurobiological and functional effects elicited by tDCS applications in enhancing neuroplasticity and in regulating the excitatory/inhibitory balance, both associated with cognitive improvement in the general population. The review begins with evidence on tDCS applications in five neurogenetic disorders, including Rett, Prader-Willi, Phelan-McDermid, and Neurofibromatosis 1 syndromes, as well as DS. Available evidence supports tDCS as a potential intervention tool and underscores the importance of advancing neurobiological research into the mechanisms of tDCS action in these conditions. We then discuss the potential of tDCS as a promising non-invasive strategy to mitigate deficits in plasticity and promote fine-tuning of the excitatory/inhibitory balance in DS, exploring implications for cognitive treatment perspectives in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessio Faralli
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Fucà
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Lazzaro
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Deny Menghini
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
- Life Sciences and Public Health Department, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Floriana Costanzo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
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Gandy K, Hall L, Krull KR, Esbensen AJ, Rubnitz J, Jacola LM. Neurocognitive and psychosocial outcomes in survivors of childhood leukemia with Down syndrome. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e6842. [PMID: 38240104 PMCID: PMC10905531 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.6842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2023] [Revised: 10/24/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/25/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The primary aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of a developmentally tailored neurocognitive assessment in survivors of childhood acute leukemia with Down syndrome (DS-leukemia). A secondary aim was to compare outcomes in the DS-leukemia group to a historical comparison group of individuals with DS and no history of childhood cancer. METHODS Survivors of DS-leukemia (n = 43; 56% male, mean [SD] age at diagnosis = 4.3 [4.5] years; age at evaluation = 15 [7.9] years) completed a neurocognitive assessment battery that included direct measures of attention, executive function, and processing speed, and proxy ratings of attention problems and executive dysfunction. Direct assessment outcomes were compared to a historical comparison cohort of individuals with DS and no history of childhood cancer (DS-control; n = 117; 56% male, mean [SD] age at evaluation = 12.7 [3.4] years). RESULTS Rates of valid task completion ranged from 54% to 95%, suggesting feasibility for most direct assessment measures. Compared to the DS-control group, the DS-leukemia group had significantly lower completion rates on measures of executive function (p = 0.008) and processing speed (p = 0.018) compared to the DS-control group. There were no other significant group differences in completion rates. Compared to the DS-control group, the DS-leukemia group had significantly more accurate performance on two measures of executive function (p = 0.032; p = 0.005). Compared to the DS-control group, the DS-leukemia group had significantly more problems with executive function as identified on proxy ratings (6.5% vs. 32.6%, p = <0.001). CONCLUSION Children with Down syndrome (DS) are at increased risk for developing acute leukemia compared to the general population but are systematically excluded from neurocognitive outcome studies among leukemia survivors. This study demonstrated the feasibility of evaluating neurocognitive late effects in leukemia survivors with DS using novel measures appropriate for populations with intellectual developmental disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kellen Gandy
- Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral SciencesSt. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
- Department of Social SciencesUniversity of Houston DowntownHoustonTexasUSA
| | - Lacey Hall
- Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral SciencesSt. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Kevin R. Krull
- Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral SciencesSt. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Anna J. Esbensen
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral PediatricsCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center & University of Cincinnati College of MedicineCincinnatiOhioUSA
| | - Jeffrey Rubnitz
- Department of OncologySt. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Lisa M. Jacola
- Department of Psychology and Biobehavioral SciencesSt. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
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Sakalidis KE, Menting SGP, Hettinga FJ. Influence of intellectual disability on exercise regulation: exploring verbal, auditory and visual guidance to contribute to promote inclusive exercise environments. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med 2024; 10:e001765. [PMID: 38196941 PMCID: PMC10773414 DOI: 10.1136/bmjsem-2023-001765] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective The role of intellectual disability (ID) in exercise regulation has remained largely unexplored, yet recent studies have indicated cognitive-related impaired pacing skills in people with ID. In a well-controlled laboratory environment, this study aims to (1) establish the role of ID in pacing and explore the ability of people with and without ID to maintain a steady pace; (2) to investigate if verbal feedback and/or (3) the presence of a pacer can improve the ability of people with ID to maintain a preplanned submaximal velocity. Methods Participants with (n=10) and without ID (n=10) were recruited and performed 7 min submaximal trials on a cycle ergometer (Velotron). Participants with ID also performed a cycling trial with a pacer (virtual avatar). Results The non-parametric tests for repeated measures data (p≤0.05) showed that (1) people with ID deviated more from the targeted pace compared with people without ID, (2) the verbal feedback did not influence their ability to keep a steady pace and (3) they deviated less from the targeted pace when a visual pacer was introduced. Conclusion The results revealed the difficulties of people with ID in planning and monitoring their exercise and the difficulties in appropriately responding to auditory and verbal feedback. Coaches and stakeholders who want to offer inclusive exercise pathways should consider that people with ID perform and pace themselves better when supported by intuitive, visual and personally meaningful stimuli such as other cyclists (avatars).
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Esbensen AJ, Schworer EK, Lee NR, Hoffman EK, Yamamoto K, Fidler D. Implications of Using the BRIEF-Preschool With School-Age Children With Down Syndrome. AMERICAN JOURNAL ON INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2024; 129:41-55. [PMID: 38147888 PMCID: PMC10753925 DOI: 10.1352/1944-7558-129.1.41] [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: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 12/28/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluated the appropriateness of scoring the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool (BRIEF-P) using age-equivalent scores generated from multiple measures of cognition and language among school-age children with Down syndrome (DS). Subscale T scores for 95 children with DS were contrasted using standard scoring on the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Second edition (BRIEF-2; based on chronological age) to alternate scoring using the BRIEF-P (based on age-equivalent) for patterns of subscale intercorrelations, differences in mean scores, and agreement on findings from clinical cut-off scores. Results with children with DS suggested using (1) the BRIEF-P for children ages 2-5 years old, (2) the BRIEF-2 with chronological-age scoring or the BRIEF-P with age-equivalent scoring (with some caveats) for research on children ages 5-10 years old, and (3) the BRIEF-2 for children ages 11 and older.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J. Esbensen
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Emily K. Schworer
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Nancy R. Lee
- Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Emily K. Hoffman
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kaila Yamamoto
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Deborah Fidler
- Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Sakalidis KE, Pérez-Tejero J, Khudair M, Hettinga FJ. Ball possessions and game rhythm in basketball games involving players with and without intellectual impairments. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2024; 68:23-33. [PMID: 37654006 DOI: 10.1111/jir.13083] [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: 11/07/2022] [Revised: 08/02/2023] [Accepted: 08/15/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Ball possessions and game rhythm are promising variables to better understand teams' collective behaviour during a basketball game. However, the role of these variables is not well documented in teams with intellectual impairments (II). This study aimed to explore ball possession and game rhythm differences between II and non-II basketball games. METHODS Data were obtained through video observations (53 II games) and the International Basketball Federation records (53 non-II games). RESULTS Independent t-tests (P ≤ 0.05) revealed that the number of ball possessions was higher and game rhythm was faster in II games. Two-way repeated-measures analysis of variance (P ≤ 0.05) showed that ball possessions and game rhythm developed differently throughout the II games compared with the non-II games. CONCLUSIONS The differences may be due to the decision-making, tactical and self-regulatory limitations of players with II. These limitations adequately explain why players with II respond differently to the environmental cues and monitor insufficiently their actions compared with players without II. Additionally, the higher number of ball possessions and the faster game rhythm in II games could be an indicator of more intuitive, and thus faster, game-related decision-making. In conclusion, the study provides further understanding of the role of cognition in basketball and contributes to better explain the differences between II and non-II games.
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Affiliation(s)
- K E Sakalidis
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - J Pérez-Tejero
- Department of Health and Human Performance, Faculty of Physical Activity and Sport Sciences, Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - M Khudair
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - F J Hettinga
- Department of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
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Del Hoyo Soriano L, Sterling A, Edgin J, Hamilton DR, Berry-Kravis E, Dimachkie Nunnally A, Thurman AJ, Abbeduto L. Associations Among Sex, Cognitive Ability, and Autism Symptoms in Individuals with Down Syndrome. J Autism Dev Disord 2024; 54:301-311. [PMID: 36315322 PMCID: PMC10184887 DOI: 10.1007/s10803-022-05779-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
This study explores sex-differences in (a) rates and profiles of autism symptoms as well as in (b) the contribution of intellectual quotient (IQ) to autism symptom presentation in Down syndrome (DS). Participants were 40 males and 38 females with DS, aged 6 to 23 years. Autism symptoms were rated through the Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule-Second Edition (ADOS-2). Results show no sex differences in the ADOS-2 Calibrated Severity Scores (CSS). However, only females with DS who are classified as DS-Only have higher scores on verbal IQ than those classified as DS + autism. Furthermore, associations between IQ and all CSSs are found for females, but not for males. Findings suggest that verbal cognition may play differential roles for females and males with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Del Hoyo Soriano
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, USA.
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA.
| | - Audra Sterling
- Waisman Center, Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Jamie Edgin
- Department of Psychology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - Debra R Hamilton
- Department of Human Genetics, School of Medicine, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Berry-Kravis
- Departments of Pediatrics, Neurological Sciences and Biochemistry, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, USA
| | | | - Angela John Thurman
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Leonard Abbeduto
- MIND Institute, University of California Davis, 2825 50th Street, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, USA
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Tenorio M, Arango PS, Aparicio A. BENDI: Improving Cognitive Assessments in Toddlers and Children with Down Syndrome Using Stealth Assessment. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1923. [PMID: 38136125 PMCID: PMC10741548 DOI: 10.3390/children10121923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2023] [Revised: 12/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
Cognitive assessment is a fundamental step in diagnosing intellectual and developmental disabilities, designing interventions, and evaluating their impact. However, developed and developing countries have different access to tools designed for these purposes. Our goal was to develop a battery for cognitive assessment mediated by digital technology that allows the exploration of cognitive domains (inhibitory control, attention, motor ability, and context memory) in children with Down Syndrome (DS) in Chile. Four tasks, based on established experimental paradigms modified to provide a game-like experience, were tested in 68 children with DS from 20 months to 12 years of age. We present evidence of reliability based on internal consistency and split-half analyses, with results ranging from adequate to excellent. Regarding validity, factorial and correlational analyses show evidence consistent with what was theoretically expected of internal structure, convergence, and divergence with other measures. Expected age trajectories were observed as well. Our data offer evidence that supports the use of tasks based on touch-screen devices for cognitive assessment in the population with DS. The tasks also have a low cultural load, so they could be validated and used in other contexts without the need for an adaptation process.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Andrés Aparicio
- Millennium Institute for Care Research (MICARE), Santiago 8370146, Chile;
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Wagner MW, Bernhard N, Mndebele G, Vidarsson L, Ertl-Wagner BB. Volumetric differences of thalamic nuclei in children with trisomy 21. Neuroradiol J 2023; 36:581-587. [PMID: 36942548 PMCID: PMC10569191 DOI: 10.1177/19714009231166100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Histological studies have shown alterations of thalamic nuclei in patients with Down syndrome (DS). The correlation of these changes on MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is unclear. Therefore, this study investigates volumetric differences of thalamic nuclei in children with DS compared to controls. METHODS Patients were retrospectively identified between 01/2000 and 10/2021. Patient inclusion criteria were: (1) 0-18 years of age, (2) diagnosis of DS, and (3) availability of a brain MRI without parenchymal injury and a non-motion-degraded volumetric T1-weighted sequence. Whole thalamus and thalamic nuclei (n = 25) volumes were analyzed bilaterally relative to the total brain volume (TBV). Two-sided t-tests were used to evaluate differences between groups. Differences were considered significant if the adjusted p-value was <0.05 after correction for multiple hypothesis testing using the Holm-Bonferroni method. RESULTS 21 children with DS (11 females, 52.4%, mean age: 8.6 ± 4.3 years) and 63 age- and sex-matched controls (32 females, 50.8%, 8.6 ± 4.3 years) were studied using automated volumetric segmentation. Significantly smaller ratios were found for nine thalamic nuclei and the whole thalamus on the right and five thalamic nuclei on the left. TBV was significantly smaller in patients with DS (p < 0.001). No significant differences were found between the groups for age and sex. CONCLUSIONS In this exploratory volumetric analysis of the thalamus and thalamic nuclei, we observed statistically significant volumetric changes in children with DS. Our findings confirm prior neuroimaging and histological studies and extend the range of involved thalamic nuclei in pediatric DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthias W Wagner
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Division of Neuroradiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Nirit Bernhard
- The Hospital for Sick Children Department of Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Gopolang Mndebele
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Division of Neuroradiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Nelson Mandela Children’s Hospital, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Logi Vidarsson
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Division of Neuroradiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Birgit B Ertl-Wagner
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Division of Neuroradiology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Thomazeau A, Lassalle O, Manzoni OJ. Glutamatergic synaptic deficits in the prefrontal cortex of the Ts65Dn mouse model for Down syndrome. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1171797. [PMID: 37841687 PMCID: PMC10569174 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1171797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), the most prevalent cause of intellectual disability, stems from a chromosomal anomaly resulting in an entire or partial extra copy of chromosome 21. This leads to intellectual disability and a range of associated symptoms. While there has been considerable research focused on the Ts65Dn mouse model of DS, particularly in the context of the hippocampus, the synaptic underpinnings of prefrontal cortex (PFC) dysfunction in DS, including deficits in working memory, remain largely uncharted territory. In a previous study featuring mBACtgDyrk1a mice, which manifest overexpression of the Dyrk1a gene, a known candidate gene linked to intellectual disability and microcephaly in DS, we documented adverse effects on spine density, alterations in the molecular composition of synapses, and the presence of synaptic plasticity deficits within the PFC. The current study aimed to enrich our understanding of the roles of different genes in DS by studying Ts65Dn mice, which overexpress several genes including Dyrk1a, to compare with our previous work on mBACtgDyrk1a mice. Through ex-vivo electrophysiological experiments, including patch-clamp and extracellular field potential recordings, we identified alterations in the intrinsic properties of PFC layer V/VI pyramidal neurons in Ts65Dn male mice. Additionally, we observed changes in the synaptic plasticity range. Notably, long-term depression was absent in Ts65Dn mice, while synaptic or pharmacological long-term potentiation remained fully expressed in these mice. These findings provide valuable insights into the intricate synaptic mechanisms contributing to PFC dysfunction in DS, shedding light on potential therapeutic avenues for addressing the neurocognitive symptoms associated with this condition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aurore Thomazeau
- Côte d’Azur, CNRS UMR7275, Institut de Pharmacologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, Valbonne, France
- Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
- INMED, INSERM U1249, Marseille, France
| | - Olivier Lassalle
- Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
- INMED, INSERM U1249, Marseille, France
| | - Olivier J. Manzoni
- Université Aix-Marseille, Marseille, France
- INMED, INSERM U1249, Marseille, France
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Nicoli G, Pavon G, Grayson A, Emerson A, Mitra S. Touch may reduce cognitive load during assisted typing by individuals with developmental disabilities. Front Integr Neurosci 2023; 17:1181025. [PMID: 37600233 PMCID: PMC10434793 DOI: 10.3389/fnint.2023.1181025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/20/2023] [Indexed: 08/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Many techniques have attempted to provide physical support to ease the execution of a typing task by individuals with developmental disabilities (DD). These techniques have been controversial due to concerns that the support provider's touch can influence the typed content. The most common interpretation of assisted typing as an ideomotor phenomenon has been qualified recently by studies showing that users with DD make identifiable contributions to the process. This paper suggests a neurophysiological pathway by which touch could lower the cognitive load of seated typing by people with DD. The required sensorimotor processes (stabilizing posture and planning and executing manual reaching movements) and cognitive operations (generating and transcribing linguistic material) place concurrent demands on cognitive resources, particularly executive function (EF). A range of developmental disabilities are characterized by deficits in sensorimotor and EF capacity. As light touch has been shown to facilitate postural coordination, it is proposed that a facilitator's touch could assist the seated typist with sensorimotor and EF deficits by reducing their sensorimotor workload and thereby freeing up shared cognitive resources for the linguistic elements of the task. This is the first theoretical framework for understanding how a facilitator's touch may assist individuals with DD to contribute linguistic content during touch-assisted typing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Nicoli
- School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Giulia Pavon
- School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Andrew Grayson
- School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Emerson
- Faculty of Social Sciences, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Suvobrata Mitra
- School of Social Sciences, Nottingham Trent University, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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14
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Soltani A, Schworer EK, Altaye M, Fidler DJ, Beebe DW, Wiley S, Hoffman EK, Voth K, Esbensen AJ. Psychometric properties of inhibitory control measures among youth with Down syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2023; 67:753-769. [PMID: 37218393 PMCID: PMC10524385 DOI: 10.1111/jir.13043] [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: 11/09/2022] [Revised: 04/24/2023] [Accepted: 04/26/2023] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Inhibitory control measures have been commonly used when assessing individuals with Down syndrome. However, minimal attention has been devoted to evaluating the appropriateness of specific assessments for use in this population, potentially leading to erroneous conclusions. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of measures of inhibitory control among youth with Down syndrome. We sought to examine the feasibility, presence of floor or practice effects, test-retest reliability, convergent validity and correlations with broader developmental domains of a set of inhibitory control tasks. METHODS A sample of 97 youth with Down syndrome aged 6 to 17 years old participated in verbal and visuospatial tasks of inhibitory control including the Cat/dog Stroop, Neuropsychological Assessment Second Edition (NEPSY-II) Statue, National Institutes of Health (NIH) Toolbox Cognition Battery (TCB) Flanker, Leiter-3 Attention Sustained, and the Test of Attentional Performance for Children (KiTAP) Go/No-go and Distractibility subtests. Youth also completed standardised assessments of cognition and language, and caregivers completed rating scales. Psychometric properties on the tasks of inhibitory control were evaluated against a priori criteria. RESULTS Apart from demonstrating negligible practice effects, adequate psychometric properties were not observed for any inhibitory control measure within the current sample's age range. One task with low working memory demands (NEPSY-II Statue) generally had better psychometric properties than the other tasks assessed. Subgroups of participants with an IQ greater than 30 and age more than 8 years were shown to be more likely to be able to complete the inhibition tasks. CONCLUSIONS Findings suggest better feasibility for analogue tasks rather than computerised assessments of inhibitory control. Given the weak psychometrics of several common measures, future studies are required to evaluate other inhibitory control measures, specifically those with reduced working memory demands for youth with Down syndrome. Recommendations for use of the inhibitory control tasks among youth with Down syndrome are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanallah Soltani
- Department of Educational Psychology, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran
| | - Emily K. Schworer
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Mekibib Altaye
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Deborah J. Fidler
- Department of Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Dean W. Beebe
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Susan Wiley
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Emily K. Hoffman
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Kellie Voth
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Anna J. Esbensen
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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15
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Pinks ME, Van Deusen K, Prince MA, Esbensen AJ, Thurman AJ, Patel LR, Abbeduto L, Walsh MM, Daunhauer LA, Feigles RT, Nguyen V, Fidler DJ. Psychometric evaluation of a working memory assessment measure in young children with Down syndrome. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2023; 139:104564. [PMID: 37451184 PMCID: PMC10528903 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104564] [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: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Working memory involves the temporary storage and manipulation of information and is frequently an area of challenge for individuals with Down syndrome (DS). Despite the potential benefits of intervention, laboratory assessments of working memory that could capture intervention effects have not undergone rigorous evaluation for use with young children with DS. It is critical to evaluate assessments of working memory in young children with DS to ensure the reliable and accurate measurement of performance. AIM This study evaluated an adapted laboratory measure of working memory for young children with DS 2-8 years old. METHOD A self-ordered pointing task, the Garage Game, was administered to 78 children with DS (mean = 5.17 years; SD = 1.49). Adaptations were made to the task to minimize potential DS phenotype-related language and motor confounds. RESULTS Results indicate that the measure is feasible, scalable, and developmentally sensitive, with minimal floor and practice effects for this population within this chronological and developmental age range. CONCLUSION These findings demonstrate that the Garage Game is promising for use in studies of early working memory and treatment trials that aim to support the development of this critical dimension of executive functioning for children with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miranda E Pinks
- Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Kaylyn Van Deusen
- Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Mark A Prince
- Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Anna J Esbensen
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Angela John Thurman
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and MIND Institute, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Lina R Patel
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Colorado-Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, United States
| | - Leonard Abbeduto
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and MIND Institute, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Madison M Walsh
- Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Lisa A Daunhauer
- Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States
| | - Robyn Tempero Feigles
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and MIND Institute, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Vivian Nguyen
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences and MIND Institute, University of California Davis Health, Sacramento, CA, United States
| | - Deborah J Fidler
- Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, United States.
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16
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Landuran A, Sauzéon H, Consel C, N'Kaoua B. Evaluation of a smart home platform for adults with Down syndrome. Assist Technol 2023; 35:347-357. [PMID: 35576554 DOI: 10.1080/10400435.2022.2075487] [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] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022] Open
Abstract
People with Down syndrome (DS) encounter difficulties in their daily lives. In recent years, smart homes have provided some answers to the problem of residential autonomy. In fact, smart homes can provide support for complex routines and activities, while adjusting to the person's behaviors and needs and offering maximum control of the environment. In this context, the objectives of this study were to assess (i) the usability of the smart home platform as well as (ii) the impact of the use (for 6 months) of this platform by adults with DS on many dimensions such as residential autonomy, projection into the future, the development of a life plan, self-determination, quality of life, self-esteem, anxiety, and psychological well-being. The first objective of a preliminary study was to verify that the support platform we use is suitable and can be used effectively by people with DS. For the preliminary study, the evaluations show effective, satisfactory and efficient use of all applications. Regarding the objective of our study, the evaluations show positive impacts on many dimensions such as living skills, self-determination, quality of life, self-esteem, anxiety and certain components of life psychological well-being.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Landuran
- Laboratory Handicap, Action, Cognition, Santé, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Phoenix research group, INRIA Bordeaux Sud-Ouest, Talence, France
| | - Hélène Sauzéon
- Laboratory Handicap, Action, Cognition, Santé, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Phoenix research group, INRIA Bordeaux Sud-Ouest, Talence, France
| | - Charles Consel
- Phoenix research group, INRIA Bordeaux Sud-Ouest, Talence, France
- Department of Telecommunications, Bordeaux INP
| | - Bernard N'Kaoua
- Laboratory Handicap, Action, Cognition, Santé, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Phoenix research group, INRIA Bordeaux Sud-Ouest, Talence, France
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17
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Borji R, Laatar R, Zarrouk N, Sahli S, Rebai H. Cognitive-motor interference during standing stance across different postural and cognitive tasks in individuals with Down syndrome. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2023; 139:104562. [PMID: 37379660 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2023.104562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2022] [Revised: 06/10/2023] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 06/30/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) presented both cognitive and motor impairments that could influence each other. Therefore, exploring cognitive-motor interference during standing stance is relevant in this population. AIMS This study explored the dual task (DT) effects on postural balance during diverse cognitive tasks and sensory manipulations in individuals with DS, compared to those with typical development (TD). METHODS AND PROCEDURES Fifteen adolescents with DS (age = 14.26 ± 1.27 years; height = 1.50 ± 0.02; weight = 46.46 ± 4.03 kg; BMI =20.54 ± 1.51 kg/m2) and thirteen with TD (age = 14.07 ± 1.11 years; height = 1.50 ± 0.05; weight = 44.92 ± 4.15 kg; BMI =19.77 ± 0.94 kg/m2) participated in this study. Postural and cognitive performances for the selective span task (SST) and the verbal fluency (VF) were recorded during single task (ST) and DT conditions. Postural conditions were: firm eyes open (firm-EO), firm eyes closed (firm-EC) and foam-EO. Motor and cognitive DT costs (DTC) were calculated and analyzed across these different cognitive and postural conditions. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS In the DS group, postural performance was significantly (p < 0.001) altered during all DT conditions, compared to the ST situation. Moreover, the motor DTC was significantly (p < 0.001) higher while performing the VF task than the SST. However, in the control group, postural performance was significantly (p < 0.001) impaired only while performing the VF test in the DT-Firm EO condition. For both groups, cognitive performances were significantly (p < 0.05) altered in all DT conditions compared to the ST one. CONCLUSION Adolescents with DS are more prone to DT effects on postural balance than those with TD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rihab Borji
- Research Laboratory: Education, Motricité, Sport et Santé, EM2S, LR19JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.
| | - Rabeb Laatar
- Research Laboratory: Education, Motricité, Sport et Santé, EM2S, LR19JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Nidhal Zarrouk
- Research Laboratory: Education, Motricité, Sport et Santé, EM2S, LR19JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Sonia Sahli
- Research Laboratory: Education, Motricité, Sport et Santé, EM2S, LR19JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Haithem Rebai
- Laboratory 'Optimisation de la Performance Sportive, Centre National de Médecine et Sciences du Sport (CNMSS)', Tunis, Tunisia
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18
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Watson LA, Meharena HS. From neurodevelopment to neurodegeneration: utilizing human stem cell models to gain insight into Down syndrome. Front Genet 2023; 14:1198129. [PMID: 37323671 PMCID: PMC10267712 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2023.1198129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2023] [Accepted: 05/09/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS), caused by triplication of chromosome 21, is the most frequent aneuploidy observed in the human population and represents the most common genetic form of intellectual disability and early-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD). Individuals with DS exhibit a wide spectrum of clinical presentation, with a number of organs implicated including the neurological, immune, musculoskeletal, cardiac, and gastrointestinal systems. Decades of DS research have illuminated our understanding of the disorder, however many of the features that limit quality of life and independence of individuals with DS, including intellectual disability and early-onset dementia, remain poorly understood. This lack of knowledge of the cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to neurological features of DS has caused significant roadblocks in developing effective therapeutic strategies to improve quality of life for individuals with DS. Recent technological advances in human stem cell culture methods, genome editing approaches, and single-cell transcriptomics have provided paradigm-shifting insights into complex neurological diseases such as DS. Here, we review novel neurological disease modeling approaches, how they have been used to study DS, and what questions might be addressed in the future using these innovative tools.
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19
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Schworer EK, Altaye M, Fidler DJ, Beebe DW, Wiley S, Hoffman EK, Esbensen AJ. Evaluating Processing Speed and Reaction Time Outcome Measures in Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 20:5202. [PMID: 36982110 PMCID: PMC10049659 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20065202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 03/06/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Reliable and valid cognitive outcome measures, including examiner-administered and computer-facilitated assessments of processing speed and reaction time, are necessary for future clinical trials that include individuals with Down syndrome (DS). The current study evaluated the score distributions and psychometric properties of four examiner-administered and three computerized processing speed and reaction time measures. Participants included 97 individuals with DS, aged 6 to 17 (M = 12.6, SD = 3.3). Two examiner-administered measures (Differential Ability Scales-II Rapid Naming and Cat/dog Stroop Congruent) met most predetermined psychometric criteria. Other assessments demonstrated good test-retest reliability and had negligible practice effects but lacked adequate feasibility. Recommendations for using processing speed and reaction time assessments in research and suggestions for modifications of measures are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K. Schworer
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA
| | - Mekibib Altaye
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Deborah J. Fidler
- Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523, USA
| | - Dean W. Beebe
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Susan Wiley
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Emily K. Hoffman
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Anna J. Esbensen
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
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20
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Van Biesen D, Van Damme T, Pineda RC, Burns J. The impact of intellectual disability and sport expertise on cognitive and executive functions. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES : JOID 2023; 27:104-120. [PMID: 35176890 DOI: 10.1177/17446295211036331] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Our aim was to identify the suitability of three assessment tools (i.e., Flanker test, Updating Word Span, and Color Trails Test) for future inclusion in the classification process of elite Paralympic athletes with intellectual disability and to assess the strength of the relation between Executive function (EF) and intelligence. Cognitive and EF assessments were performed on 59 participants, divided into four groups according to their cognitive level (with versus without intellectual disability) and sport expertise (athlete versus novice). Inhibition and working memory update skills were implicated in people with intellectual disability. For set-shifting, a more nuanced picture was observed. Strong associations between EF and intelligence was found in people with intellectual disability. Working memory updating and set-shifting are relevant EF skills to assess in the context of elite sport; however, culture-free alternatives for the Updating Word Span test are needed, and alternatives to the Color Trails Test, less reliant on literacy skills are required.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - J Burns
- Canterbury Christ Church University, UK
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21
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Maessen B, Zink I, Maes B, Rombouts E. The effect of manual movements on stuttering in individuals with down syndrome. JOURNAL OF FLUENCY DISORDERS 2023; 75:105958. [PMID: 36621164 DOI: 10.1016/j.jfludis.2023.105958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 01/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Stuttering may disrupt the speech of individuals with Down syndrome (DS), but standard stuttering therapies may be less adapted to these clients' needs. This study examined if their strength in gesture use can lead to the development of a new stuttering therapy. METHOD Eighteen individuals with DS who stutter participated in an experimental task. During this task, they produced sentences in three different conditions: once without the ability to use gestures, once while moving the mouth of a hand puppet synchronous with their speech, and once while making beat gestures along their speech. Stuttering frequency was measured and compared between conditions while controlling for the effect of articulation rate. RESULTS The experimental hand puppet and beat condition did not affect the stuttering frequency, but the covariate articulation rate did. An exploratory posthoc analysis showed that the articulation rate decreased during the experimental hand puppet and beat condition. Manual movements in the present task might only induce fluency through articulation rate reduction. However, analyses at individual level show significant interindividual variability. CONCLUSION Individual analyses show that effect on stuttering frequency cannot be attributed entirely to articulation rate reduction and that beat gestures might still play a role. However, at this point, there is not enough direct evidence to implement beat gestures in current stuttering therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Babette Maessen
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Otorinolaryngology, KU Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Inge Zink
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Otorinolaryngology, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bea Maes
- Parenting and Special Education Research Group, KU Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ellen Rombouts
- Department of Neurosciences, Experimental Otorinolaryngology, KU Leuven, Belgium
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22
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Burack JA, Friedman S, Lessage M, Brodeur D. Re-visiting the 'mysterious myth of attention deficit': A systematic review of the recent evidence. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2023; 67:271-288. [PMID: 36437709 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12994] [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: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Based on the inclusive and methodologically rigorous framework provided by Ed Zigler's developmental approach, we previously challenged what we called, 'the mysterious myth of attention deficit', the fallacy of attention as a universal deficit among persons with intellectual disability (ID). In this latest update, we conducted a systematic review of studies of essential components of attention among persons with ID published in the interim since the last iteration of the mysterious myth narrative was submitted for publication approximately a decade ago. We searched the databases PubMed and PsycINFO for English-language peer-reviewed studies published from 1 January 2011 through 5 February 2021. In keeping with the developmental approach, the two essential methodological criteria were that the groups of persons with ID were aetiologically homogeneous and that the comparisons with persons with average IQs (or with available norms) were based on an appropriate index of developmental level, or mental age. Stringent use of these criteria for inclusion served to control for bias in article selection. Articles were then categorised based on aetiological group studied and component of visual attention. Based on these criteria, 18 articles were selected for inclusion out of the 2837 that were identified. The included studies involved 547 participants: 201 participants with Down syndrome, 214 participants with Williams syndrome and 132 participants with fragile X syndrome. The findings from these articles call attention to the complexities and nuances in understanding attentional functioning across homogeneous aetiological groups and highlight that functioning must be considered in relation to aetiology; factors associated with the individual, such as developmental level, motivation, styles and biases; and factors associated with both the task, such as context, focus, social and emotional implications, and levels of environmental complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Burack
- Department of Educational & Counseling Psychology, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - S Friedman
- Department of Psychology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - M Lessage
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - D Brodeur
- Department of Psychology, Acadia University, Wolfville, Canada
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23
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Dimachkie Nunnally A, Baczewski L, Sterrett K, Holbrook A, Kaiser A, Kasari C. Profiles and trajectories of executive functioning in young children with Down syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2023; 67:254-270. [PMID: 36642763 DOI: 10.1111/jir.13008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Language acquisition strongly predicts executive functioning (EF) in early childhood in typical development and in children with Down syndrome (DS). Both language and EF are critical contributors to later positive social and academic outcomes yet are often areas of concern in children with DS. Despite the wider availability of interventions targeting language development in DS, no efforts have been made to understand how these interventions may influence the development of EF in this population. METHODS This study examined secondary data from 76 preschoolers with DS collected as part of a randomised waitlist control trial of an early social communication intervention (JASPER-EMT). Children's EF skills were measured using the BRIEF-P, at three timepoints over 6 months. Linear regression was used to examine the baseline relationship between child characteristics and the three indices of the BRIEF-P: Emergent Metacognition, Flexibility and Inhibitory Self-Control. Linear mixed effects models were used to estimate change across the three indices of the BRIEF-P and whether that change was moderated by treatment. RESULTS Children in this sample exhibited an uneven profile of EF at baseline, with relative strengths in the Flexibility Index and the Inhibitory Self-Control Index, and relative weaknesses in the Emerging Metacognition Index. Chronological age was associated with all indices at baseline (all P < 0.05). Children in the intervention group exhibited improvements in the Flexibility Index from entry to exit (3 months later) compared with the control, although this treatment effect did not maintain at the follow up at 6 months. CONCLUSIONS Baseline EF profiles of children were consistent with findings of other studies with children with DS. Longitudinal findings suggest that behavioural interventions targeting language may have positive collateral effects on certain EF skills, however these effects may be transitory without ongoing support. These findings illustrate both the need for further exploration of the impact of early language interventions on EF abilities and the malleability of certain EF domains in young children with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - L Baczewski
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - K Sterrett
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - A Holbrook
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - A Kaiser
- Department of Special Education, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - C Kasari
- Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
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24
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Schworer EK, Soltani A, Altaye M, Fidler DJ, Esbensen AJ. Cognitive flexibility assessment in youth with Down syndrome: Reliability, practice effects, and validity. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2023; 133:104416. [PMID: 36603310 PMCID: PMC9852016 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2022] [Revised: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/30/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cognitive flexibility refers to the ability to switch between different mental sets, tasks, or strategies and is challenging for some individuals with Down syndrome (DS). The lack of reliable and valid cognitive flexibility measures for individuals with DS is a major barrier to clinical trials and intervention studies designed to address cognitive challenges specific to DS. To avoid measurement limitations that could confound interpretations of performance in clinical trials in children with DS, it is critical to use phenotype-sensitive and psychometrically sound measures of cognitive flexibility. AIM This study aimed to evaluate the psychometric properties of three measures of cognitive flexibility including Rule-Shift, Weigl Sorting, and KiTAP Flexibility in a sample of 97 youth with DS aged 6-17 years old. METHOD Data were collected at two time points with a two-week interval. Parents also completed adaptive behavior and cognitive flexibility questionnaires. Child cognitive and language abilities were also assessed. RESULTS The Weigl Sorting met the most psychometric criteria, with adequate feasibility (≥ 80 %) and significant correlations with most of the broader developmental domains; however, the levels of test-retest reliability, practice effects, and convergent validity did not meet a priori criteria. Rule-Shift and KiTAP Flexibility measures did not have acceptable feasibility; although sensitivity and specificity analyses revealed that Rule-Shift may be appropriate for a subgroup of the participants. CONCLUSION No evaluated measures met all psychometric study criteria and, therefore, additional evaluation of cognitive flexibility measures is needed for use among individuals with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K Schworer
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; University of Wisconsin-Madison, Waisman Center, Madison, WI, USA.
| | - Amanallah Soltani
- Department of Educational Psychology, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mekibib Altaye
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Division of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Deborah J Fidler
- Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Anna J Esbensen
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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25
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Soltani A, Schworer EK, Jacobson LA, Channell MM, Lee NR, Faught GG, Grzadzinski R, Fidler D, Esbensen AJ. Confirmatory factor analysis of the BRIEF2 in a sample of youth with Down syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2023; 67:148-158. [PMID: 36573033 PMCID: PMC9839560 DOI: 10.1111/jir.13000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2022] [Revised: 11/02/2022] [Accepted: 11/28/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The factor structure of the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, second edition (BRIEF2) has been widely examined in both typically developing children and specific clinical samples. Despite the frequent use of the BRIEF2 for measuring executive functioning in individuals with Down syndrome, no study has investigated the factorial validity or dimensionality of the BRIEF2 in this population. This study aimed to address this notable gap in the literature. METHODS Parents of 407 children and youth with Down syndrome aged 6-18 years completed the BRIEF2 as part of different studies led by six sites. Three competing models proposed by previous studies were analysed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis: the theoretical structure of the BRIEF2 where the scales were constrained to load on three factors labelled as Cognitive, Behavioral, and Emotional Regulation, a two-factor correlated model with the merged Behavioral and Emotional regulation, and a single-factor model. RESULTS The three-factor model provided a better fit than the one- and two-factor models, yet a large correlation was observed between Behavioural and Emotional regulation factors. The results provide meaningful explanatory value for the theoretical structure of the BRIEF2. However, the Behavioral and Emotional regulation factors might be less differentiated and the two-factor structure of the BRIEF2 may also make theoretical and empirical sense. CONCLUSIONS Although more studies are needed to further examine the factor structure of the BRIEF2 in youth with Down syndrome, this investigation provides preliminary support for the interpretation of the three executive function index scores provided by the BRIEF2: Cognitive, Behavioral, and Emotional Regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. Soltani
- Department of Educational Psychology, Kerman BranchIslamic Azad UniversityKermanIran
| | - E. K. Schworer
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral PediatricsCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterCincinnatiOHUSA
- Waisman CenterUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWIUSA
| | - L. A. Jacobson
- Department of Neuropsychology, Kennedy Krieger Institute; Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral SciencesJohn Hopkins UniversityBaltimoreMDUSA
| | - M. M. Channell
- Department of Speech and Hearing ScienceUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignChampaign, ILUSA
| | - N. R. Lee
- Department of Psychological and Brain SciencesDrexel UniversityPhiladelphiaPAUSA
| | - G. G. Faught
- Department of PsychologyThe University of AlabamaTuscaloosaALUSA
| | - R. Grzadzinski
- Carolina Institute for Developmental DisabilitiesUniversity of North CarolinaCarrboroNCUSA
| | - D. Fidler
- Department of Human Development and Family StudiesColorado State UniversityFort CollinsCOUSA
| | - A. J. Esbensen
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral PediatricsCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterCincinnatiOHUSA
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of Cincinnati College of MedicineCincinnatiOHUSA
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Farley SJ, Grishok A, Zeldich E. Shaking up the silence: consequences of HMGN1 antagonizing PRC2 in the Down syndrome brain. Epigenetics Chromatin 2022; 15:39. [PMID: 36463299 PMCID: PMC9719135 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-022-00471-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 11/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Intellectual disability is a well-known hallmark of Down Syndrome (DS) that results from the triplication of the critical region of human chromosome 21 (HSA21). Major studies were conducted in recent years to gain an understanding about the contribution of individual triplicated genes to DS-related brain pathology. Global transcriptomic alterations and widespread changes in the establishment of neural lineages, as well as their differentiation and functional maturity, suggest genome-wide chromatin organization alterations in trisomy. High Mobility Group Nucleosome Binding Domain 1 (HMGN1), expressed from HSA21, is a chromatin remodeling protein that facilitates chromatin decompaction and is associated with acetylated lysine 27 on histone H3 (H3K27ac), a mark correlated with active transcription. Recent studies causatively linked overexpression of HMGN1 in trisomy and the development of DS-associated B cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL). HMGN1 has been shown to antagonize the activity of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) and prevent the deposition of histone H3 lysine 27 trimethylation mark (H3K27me3), which is associated with transcriptional repression and gene silencing. However, the possible ramifications of the increased levels of HMGN1 through the derepression of PRC2 target genes on brain cell pathology have not gained attention. In this review, we discuss the functional significance of HMGN1 in brain development and summarize accumulating reports about the essential role of PRC2 in the development of the neural system. Mechanistic understanding of how overexpression of HMGN1 may contribute to aberrant brain cell phenotypes in DS, such as altered proliferation of neural progenitors, abnormal cortical architecture, diminished myelination, neurodegeneration, and Alzheimer's disease-related pathology in trisomy 21, will facilitate the development of DS therapeutic approaches targeting chromatin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sean J. Farley
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
| | - Alla Grishok
- grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Department of Biochemistry, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA ,grid.189504.10000 0004 1936 7558Boston University Genome Science Institute, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA USA
| | - Ella Zeldich
- Department of Anatomy and Neurobiology, Boston University Chobanian & Avedisian School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
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Soltani A, Schworer EK, Esbensen AJ. Executive functioning and verbal fluency performance in youth with Down syndrome. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2022; 131:104358. [PMID: 36209524 PMCID: PMC9701181 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2022.104358] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Executive functioning (EF) is an area of challenge for individuals with Down syndrome (DS) associated with a variety of downstream difficulties. Verbal fluency performance is one potential downstream effect that is commonly assessed in individuals with DS due to the measure's utility as a predictor of dementia. Verbal fluency requires individuals to inhibit irrelevant responses, shift between groupings of related words, and monitor to prevent repetition, all skills related to EF. AIMS This study aimed to determine the association between semantic verbal fluency performance and three EF subdomains (inhibition, shifting, and working memory) in youth with DS after taking into account vocabulary and cognitive ability. METHODS AND PROCEDURES Neuropsychological assessments (verbal and visuospatial), and parent reports of EF, were completed at one time point by 69 youth with DS 6-17 years old and their caregivers. Expressive and receptive vocabulary skills and cognitive ability were also assessed. OUTCOMES AND RESULTS The results revealed that verbal fluency performance was significantly associated with neuropsychological assessments of EF and parent report of inhibition even after controlling for the effects of vocabulary and cognitive ability. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS The findings highlight the underlying importance of EF in verbal fluency tasks in youth with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanallah Soltani
- Department of Educational Psychology, Kerman Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kerman, Iran
| | - Emily K Schworer
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Anna J Esbensen
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA; Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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Ursumando L, Fucà E, Costanzo F, Vicari S. Delusion of Pregnancy in Down Syndrome: Two Case Reports. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:13339. [PMID: 36293918 PMCID: PMC9602499 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013339] [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: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 10/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with intellectual disability (ID) are more vulnerable to psychotic disorder and schizophrenia than the general population. However, psychotic symptoms have not been widely described in this population. Here, we deeply investigated the cases of two young women with ID and Down syndrome (DS) who developed a delusion of pregnancy, a rare condition defined as a fixed belief of being pregnant despite factual evidence to the contrary. The assessment included psychopathological and neuropsychological examination, as well as the evaluation of cognitive and adaptive functioning. In these cases, delusion manifested as a psychotic symptom of a cyclothymic disorder (case 1) or as an independent delusional disorder (case 2). However, some similarities emerged: both women exhibited good pre-morbid adaptive functioning and family history of psychiatric disorders; moreover, in both cases delusion emerged in association with an external trigger. Difficulties in verbally expressing one's thoughts and beliefs were found, as well as poor abstract reasoning skills that may have affected the ability to deeply conceptualize the delusional idea itself. These findings may provide crucial insights into the clinical manifestation of psychosis in individuals with DS and underscore the importance of a routine psychological and neuropsychological follow-up to provide prompt and adequate intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciana Ursumando
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Elisa Fucà
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Floriana Costanzo
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Stefano Vicari
- Child and Adolescent Neuropsychiatry Unit, Department of Neuroscience, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
- Department of Life Sciences and Public Health, Catholic University, 00168 Rome, Italy
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Shapoval S, Gimeno-Santos M, Mendez Zorrilla A, Garcia-Zapirain B, Guerra-Balic M, Signo-Miguel S, Bruna-Rabassa O. Serious Games for Executive Functions Training for Adults with Intellectual Disability: Overview. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:11369. [PMID: 36141638 PMCID: PMC9517401 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph191811369] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
(1) Background: Throughout the history of medical and psychology practice, specialists have worked to improve the quality of treatment and rehabilitation, which has led to the emergence of concepts such as serious games. These tools focus on different areas of intervention procedures, one of which is to help people with intellectual disability (ID). Individuals with ID have problems with executive functions (EFs), which are related to adaptive functioning. Recent studies showed that serious games positively impact cognitive, social, and communication skills in people with ID. The purpose of this study is to analyze the solutions that have been found in EF training for adults with ID in recent years, evaluating them with a number of key parameters and identifying the features and possible problems in the further development of our system. (2) Methods: A review was conducted starting with 573 articles in English related to serious games and selected from studies that had been published since 2015. Finally, 10 were examined in detail as they focused on EFs in adults with ID. They were searched in seven major databases ("Association for Computing Machinery" (ACM), IEEE Xplore database, DBLP computer science bibliography, Google Scholar, PubMed, SCOPUS, and PsycInfo). (3) Results: It was determined that the most frequent EFs referred to in the studies analyzed were planning and decision-making, followed by working memory and social cognition, behavioral regulation, flexibility, and inhibition capacity. The basic approach to the creation of support systems was also analyzed in terms of technical and program execution. The trend results' analysis evidenced improvements in EFs, even though they were not significant. This comprehensive technique enabled the identification of the main features and aspects to be taken into account for further development of our system.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Shapoval
- eVIDA—Lab, Deusto University, Avda/Universidades 24, 48007 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Mercé Gimeno-Santos
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences, Blanquerna, University Ramon Llull, C/Císter, 34, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
| | | | | | - Myriam Guerra-Balic
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences, Blanquerna, University Ramon Llull, C/Císter, 34, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Signo-Miguel
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences, Blanquerna, University Ramon Llull, C/Císter, 34, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olga Bruna-Rabassa
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sport Sciences, Blanquerna, University Ramon Llull, C/Císter, 34, 08022 Barcelona, Spain
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30
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Landuran A, N'Kaoua B. Prospective memory in adults with down syndrome. APPLIED NEUROPSYCHOLOGY. ADULT 2022; 29:946-957. [PMID: 33044888 DOI: 10.1080/23279095.2020.1828082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Prospective memory (PM) refers to the ability to remember one's intentions (what I must do), at the appropriate time, in the future (when I must do it). The objective of this work is to study the performance of people with Down syndrome (DS) compared to two control groups, matched by mental age and chronological age. For this purpose, an adapted version of the virtual week, which is an ecological test to simulate the functioning of PM in everyday life, was used. The results suggest that people with DS have difficulties in PM that mainly concern the binding (association) between prospective (when to do) and retrospective (what to do) components. Moreover, people with DS perform better in PM when the task is repeated and time-based. These results are discussed in light of studies conducted with other populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Audrey Landuran
- Laboratoire Handicap, Action, Cognition, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
| | - Bernard N'Kaoua
- Laboratoire Handicap, Action, Cognition, University of Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
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31
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Klein JA, Haydar TF. Neurodevelopment in Down syndrome: Concordance in humans and models. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:941855. [PMID: 35910249 PMCID: PMC9334873 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.941855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Great strides have been made over the past 30 years in understanding the neurodevelopmental changes underlying the intellectual disability (ID) in Down syndrome (DS). Detailed studies of human tissue coupled with findings from rodent and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) model systems have uncovered the changes in neurogenesis, synaptic connectivity, and myelination that drive the anatomical and physiological changes resulting in the disability. However, there remain significant conflicting data between human studies and the models. To fully understand the development of ID in DS, these inconsistencies need to be reconciled. Here, we review the well documented neurodevelopmental phenotypes found in individuals with DS and examine the degree to which widely used models recapitulate these phenotypes. Resolving these areas of discord will further research on the molecular underpinnings and identify potential treatments to improve the independence and quality of life of people with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny A. Klein
- Graduate Program for Neuroscience, Boston University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Tarik F. Haydar
- Children’s National Hospital, Center for Neuroscience Research, Washington, DC, United States
- Departments of Pediatrics, Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
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32
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Recognition of Basic Emotions with and without the Use of Emotional Vocabulary by Adolescents with Down Syndrome. Behav Sci (Basel) 2022; 12:bs12060167. [PMID: 35735377 PMCID: PMC9220526 DOI: 10.3390/bs12060167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Children with Down syndrome (DS) often experience behavioral and emotional issues that complicate their socialization process and may lead to psychopathological disorders. These problems may be related to deficits affecting emotional knowledge, particularly emotional vocabulary. Because emotional vocabulary makes it easier for typically developing children to identify emotions, a deficit affecting it in DS could be problematic. Methods: Twenty-eight adolescents with DS matched with typically developing (TD) children for their score on the Benton Facial Recognition Test were asked to recognize six emotional expressions presented in the form of filmed sequences, based on (1) nonverbal cues such as prosody, and (2) an emotional label. Results: The adolescents with DS recognized the six basic emotional expressions at a level comparable to that of the TD children in both conditions (with and without emotional vocabulary), but the facilitating effect of vocabulary was lower in that group. Conclusions: This study does not show a deficit affecting emotion recognition in DS, but it emphasizes the importance of early acquisition of emotional knowledge in this syndrome. Regular and varied use of internal state words should be encouraged in familial interactions, and education should include specifically adapted social and emotional learning programs.
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33
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Zhao L, Xiong X, Liu L, Liang Q, Tong R, Feng X, Bai L, Shi J. Recent research and development of DYRK1A inhibitors. CHINESE CHEM LETT 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cclet.2021.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Farran EK, Hudson KD, Bennett A, Ameen A, Misheva I, Bechlem B, Blades M, Courbois Y. Anxiety and Spatial Navigation in Williams Syndrome and Down Syndrome. Dev Neuropsychol 2022; 47:136-157. [PMID: 35282728 DOI: 10.1080/87565641.2022.2047685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with Down Syndrome (DS) and individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) present with poor navigation and elevated anxiety. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between these two characteristics. Parent report questionnaires measured navigation abilities and anxiety in WS (N = 55) and DS (N = 42) as follows. Anxiety: Spence Children's Anxiety Scale and a novel measure of navigation anxiety. Navigation: Santa Barbara Sense of Direction Scale (SBSOD) and a novel measure of navigation competence. Most individuals were not permitted to travel independently. A relationship between navigation anxiety and SBSOD scores (but not navigation competence) was observed for both groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K Farran
- Department of Psychological Science, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Kerry D Hudson
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
| | - Amelia Bennett
- Department of Psychological Science, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Aan Ameen
- Department of Psychological Science, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Iliana Misheva
- Department of Psychological Science, School of Psychology, University of Surrey, Guildford, UK
| | - Badri Bechlem
- Department of Psychology and Human Development, UCL Institute of Education, University College London, London, UK
| | - Mark Blades
- Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Yannick Courbois
- Univ. Lille, ULR 4072 - PSITEC - Psychologie: Interactions Temps Émotions Cognition, Lille, France
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Boato E, Melo G, Filho M, Moresi E, Lourenço C, Tristão R. The Use of Virtual and Computational Technologies in the Psychomotor and Cognitive Development of Children with Down Syndrome: A Systematic Literature Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19052955. [PMID: 35270648 PMCID: PMC8910279 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19052955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2021] [Revised: 02/16/2022] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have numerous comorbidities due to trisomy 21. However, virtual reality-based therapy (VRT) has been used nowadays as a learning and visual motor tool in order to facilitate the development and learning process of this group. The aim of this article was to carry out an integrative review of the literature on the use of virtual and computational technologies in the stimulation of children with DS. A search was carried out according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) through single key words or their combinations using AND or OR operators: “Down syndrome” AND (“development” OR “cognition” OR “visomotor” OR “digital game” OR “virtual reality”). Eventually, 18 articles were included in our review. The games used in the research were able to stimulate, through the visual field, global motor skills, balance, body scheme and spatial organization, in addition to the learning of mathematical concepts, in order to directly influence the autonomous life activities, language skills, social skills and educational aspects of people with DS. Electronic games contribute to the teaching-learning relationship and stimulate neuropsychomotor and cognitive functions and development in children with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvio Boato
- Department of Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasilia 71966-700, Brazil; (E.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Geiziane Melo
- Department of Physical Education, Catholic University of Brasília, Brasilia 71966-700, Brazil; (E.B.); (G.M.)
| | - Mário Filho
- Center for Science and Technology-CogniAction Lab, Catholic University of Brasilia, Brasilia 71966-700, Brazil; (M.F.); (E.M.)
| | - Eduardo Moresi
- Center for Science and Technology-CogniAction Lab, Catholic University of Brasilia, Brasilia 71966-700, Brazil; (M.F.); (E.M.)
| | - Carla Lourenço
- Department of Sport of Science, Universidade da Beira Interior, 3510-774 Covilhan, Portugal
- Correspondence:
| | - Rosana Tristão
- Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital of University of Brasilia, Brasilia 70297-400, Brazil;
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36
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Barrón-Martínez JB, Salvador-Cruz J. Social abilities in young Mexicans with Down syndrome during the COVID-19 pandemic. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2022; 69:888-895. [PMID: 37885837 PMCID: PMC10599167 DOI: 10.1080/20473869.2022.2038527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/29/2022] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Background: Social abilities include interpersonal skills, interaction, and social responsibility. The nature of these abilities has not been explored in young people with Down syndrome (DS) during the social isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: The aim of this online study was to describe the social profile of a group of 30 Mexican people with DS, with a chronological age of 15-29 years, and explore the variables related to their psychosocial profiles. A sociodemographic questionnaire, mental age examination, and socialization battery were applied. Social behavior was analyzed in domains that facilitate socialization (leadership, joviality, social sensitivity, respect/self-control), in domains that disrupt socialization (aggressiveness/stubbornness, apathy/withdrawal, anxiety/shyness), and on a global scale. Results: Participants' scores in the facilitative domains were above average, and their scores in the disruptive domains were below average, as expected. Scores on the respect/self-control scale were associated with chronological age (CA), and those on the global scale with mental age (MA). Discussion: No impairments were found in the social skills of young people with DS according to the parameters of the scale. The development of the social profile with CA and MA stimulates cognition and promotes independence, autonomy, and proactivity. Parents' role in regulating children's behavior was an important factor in managing their social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Affiliation(s)
- J. B. Barrón-Martínez
- Faculty of Higher Studies Zaragoza, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico
| | - J. Salvador-Cruz
- Faculty of Higher Studies Zaragoza, National Autonomous University of Mexico, Mexico
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Wilkinson KM, Gilmore R, Qian Y. Judicious Arrangement of Symbols on a Simulated Augmentative and Alternative Communication Display Optimizes Visual Attention by Individuals With Down Syndrome. JOURNAL OF SPEECH, LANGUAGE, AND HEARING RESEARCH : JSLHR 2022; 65:710-726. [PMID: 35085450 PMCID: PMC9132148 DOI: 10.1044/2021_jslhr-21-00278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 05/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Aided augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) displays are often designed as symmetrical row-column grids, with each square in the grid containing a symbol. To maximize vocabulary on displays, symbols are often placed close to one another, and background color cuing is used to signal/differentiate symbols across different grammatical categories. However, from a visual and developmental standpoint, these display features (close-set symbols and use of background color cues) may not be optimal. In particular, placing symbols quite close together may result in visual crowding, in which individual symbols cannot be distinguished due to the presence of many neighbors, or flankers. This research sought to examine the role of display arrangement and background color cuing on the efficiency of visual attention during search. METHOD Ten adolescents and adults with Down syndrome underwent a visual search task while a research-based eye tracking system recorded their patterns of visual attention. Participants searched for symbol targets on displays with varying levels of visual crowding and background color cuing. RESULTS Spatial arrangements that reduced visual crowding and that used the spatial organization to cue the grammatical category of symbols resulted in significantly fewer fixations to nonrelevant distracters during search and reduced the likelihood of fixations away from the target once it was located. Background color was helpful in reducing the latency to find the target. DISCUSSION Spatial cues may offer a powerful means to maximize the efficiency of search within AAC displays. Background color cuing may facilitate speed to locate targets in these older individuals. Implications for AAC design, as well as future avenues for maximizing (growing) vocabulary, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rick Gilmore
- The Pennsylvania State University, University Park
| | - Yiming Qian
- The Pennsylvania State University, University Park
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Associations of Motor Performance and Executive Functions: Comparing Children with Down Syndrome to Chronological and Mental Age-Matched Controls. CHILDREN 2022; 9:children9010073. [PMID: 35053698 PMCID: PMC8774164 DOI: 10.3390/children9010073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2021] [Revised: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Background. Children with Down syndrome (DS) exhibit lower motor and cognitive performance than typically developing children (TD). Although there is a relationship between these two developmental domains, only a few studies have addressed this association in children with DS compared to groups of the same chronological age (CA) or mental age (MA) within one study. This study aimed to fill this research gap. Method and Procedures. The Movement Assessment Battery for Children-2 and the Trail-Making Test was used to assess motor and cognitive performances in 12 children (M = 10.5 ± 10.08) with DS, 12 CA-matched, and 12 MA-matched controls. Results. There are significant group differences in the motor dimension (total test score; p < 0.001, η2p = 0.734), for processing speed (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.396), and cognitive flexibility (p < 0.001, η2p = 0.498). Between TD-CA and both other groups, the differences in the magnitude of correlations for the motor dimension balance are also significant (compared to DS: z = −2.489; p = 0.006, and to TD-MA: z = −3.12; p < 0.001). Conclusions. Our results suggest that the relationships depend on the studied cognitive and motor skills. It seems crucial to select a wide range of tasks for both domains that are as isolated as possible for future studies, to better understand the relationships between cognitive and motor skills in children with DS.
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Csumitta KD, Stephan CM, LaQuaglia RI, Miller E, Lee NR. Updated profiles of everyday executive function in youth with Down syndrome using the BRIEF-2. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2022; 66:68-80. [PMID: 34549846 PMCID: PMC10919446 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12879] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Executive function difficulties in youth with Down syndrome (DS) are well recognised using informant-report measures. However, the profile of relative challenges and strengths has not yet been evaluated using the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function, Second Edition (BRIEF-2), which includes a new internal factor structure. METHOD Using the BRIEF-2, profiles of everyday parent-reported executive function (EF) were evaluated in youth with DS (n = 34) and compared with age-based and sex-based norms. EF profiles were also compared across raters (parent vs. teacher, n = 20) and relative to mental age-matched typically developing controls (ns = 19 in each group). RESULTS Although within-group differences were not revealed on indexes, significant differences were found among BRIEF-2 scales. Across raters, teachers reported significantly more difficulties than parents. Compared with mental age-matched typically developing controls, the DS group was rated more poorly on some but not all BRIEF-2 scales. CONCLUSIONS At the scale, but not the index level, the BRIEF-2 identifies a variegated EF profile in children with DS. For several of the scales, significant differences were noted relative to both chronological age expectations (using norms) and mental-age expectations (using a developmentally matched comparison group). At the scale level, the BRIEF-2 continues to be a sensitive tool for identifying executive function difficulties as well as profiles of relative strengths and weaknesses in children with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Emily Miller
- Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA
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Onnivello S, Colaianni S, Pulina F, Locatelli C, Marcolin C, Ramacieri G, Antonaros F, Vione B, Piovesan A, Lanfranchi S. Executive functions and adaptive behaviour in individuals with Down syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2022; 66:32-49. [PMID: 34750907 PMCID: PMC9299024 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Revised: 08/02/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Previous research has explored executive functions (EFs) and adaptive behaviour in children and adolescents with Down syndrome (DS), but there is a paucity of research on the relationship between the two in this population. This study aims to shed light on the profile of EFs and adaptive behaviour in DS, exploring the differences by age and investigating the relationship between these two domains. METHOD Parents/caregivers of 100 individuals with DS from 3 to 16 years old participated in the study. The sample was divided into preschoolers (3-6.11 years old) and school-age children (7-16 years old). Parents/caregivers completed either the Preschool Version of the Behaviour Rating Inventory of Executive Function (for children 2-6.11 years old) or the Second Edition of the same Inventory (for individuals 7 + years old). Adaptive behaviour was assessed with the Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale - Interview, Second Edition. RESULTS Findings suggest that individuals with DS have overall difficulties, but also patterns of strength and weakness in their EFs and adaptive behaviour. The preschool-age and school-age children's EF profiles differed slightly. While both age groups showed Emotional Control as a relative strength and Working Memory as a weakness, the school-age group revealed further weaknesses in Shift and Plan/Organise. As concerns adaptive behaviour, the profiles were similar in the two age groups, with Socialisation as a strength, and Communication and Daily Living Skills as weaknesses, but with a tendency for preschoolers to obtain intermediate scores for the latter. When the relationship between EFs and adaptive behaviour was explored, Working Memory predicted Communication in the younger group, while in the older group the predictors varied, depending on the adaptive domains: Working Memory was a predictor of Communication, Inhibit of Daily Living Skills, and Inhibit and Shift of Socialisation. CONCLUSION As well as elucidating the EF profiles and adaptive behaviour in individuals with DS by age, this study points to the role of EFs in adaptive functioning, providing important information for targeted interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- S. Onnivello
- Department of Developmental Psychology and SocialisationUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - S. Colaianni
- Department of Developmental Psychology and SocialisationUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - F. Pulina
- Department of Developmental Psychology and SocialisationUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - C. Locatelli
- Neonatology UnitSt. Orsola‐Malpighi PolyclinicBolognaItaly
| | - C. Marcolin
- Department of Developmental Psychology and SocialisationUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
| | - G. Ramacieri
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied BiologyUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - F. Antonaros
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied BiologyUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - B. Vione
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied BiologyUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - A. Piovesan
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine (DIMES), Unit of Histology, Embryology and Applied BiologyUniversity of BolognaBolognaItaly
| | - S. Lanfranchi
- Department of Developmental Psychology and SocialisationUniversity of PadovaPadovaItaly
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Kristensen K, Lorenz KM, Zhou X, Piro-Gambetti B, Hartley SL, Godar SP, Diel S, Neubauer E, Litovsky RY. Language and executive functioning in young adults with Down syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2022; 66:151-161. [PMID: 34288180 PMCID: PMC8766869 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12868] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/30/2020] [Revised: 03/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND This study examined the association between executive functioning and language in young adults with Down syndrome (DS). METHOD Nineteen young adults with DS (aged 19-24 years) completed standardised measures of overall cognition, vocabulary, verbal fluency and executive function skills. RESULTS Friedman's analysis of variance (χ2 (3) = 28.15, P < .001) and post hoc comparisons indicated that, on average, participants had a significantly lower overall non-verbal than verbal cognitive age equivalent and lower expressive than receptive vocabulary skills. Using Spearman correlations, performance on a verbal measure of cognition inhibition was significantly negatively related to receptive vocabulary (ρ = -.529, adjusted P = .036) and verbal fluency (ρ = -.608, adjusted P = .022). Attention was significantly positively correlated with receptive (ρ = .698, adjusted-p = .005) and expressive (ρ = .542, adjusted P = .027) vocabulary. Verbal working memory was significantly positively associated with receptive vocabulary (ρ = .585, adjusted P = .022) and verbal fluency (ρ = .737, adjusted P = .003). Finally, visuospatial working memory was significantly associated with receptive vocabulary (ρ = .562, adjusted P = .027). CONCLUSIONS Verbal and non-verbal measures of executive functioning skills had important associations with language ability in young adults with DS. Future translational research is needed to investigate causal pathways underlying these relationships. Research should explore if interventions aimed at increasing executive functioning skills (e.g. attention, inhibition and working memory) have the potential to lead to increases in language for young adults with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Kristensen
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - K M Lorenz
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - X Zhou
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - B Piro-Gambetti
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- School of Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - S L Hartley
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
- School of Human Ecology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - S P Godar
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - S Diel
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - E Neubauer
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - R Y Litovsky
- Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
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Santegoeds E, van der Schoot E, Roording‐Ragetlie S, Klip H, Rommelse N. Neurocognitive functioning of children with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities and psychiatric disorders: profile characteristics and predictors of behavioural problems. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2022; 66:162-177. [PMID: 34378826 PMCID: PMC9290047 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2020] [Revised: 07/08/2021] [Accepted: 07/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aim of the current study was twofold: first, to uncover a neurocognitive profile of normative and relative strengths and weaknesses that characterises an extremely vulnerable group of children with mild to borderline intellectual disabilities (MBID) and co-morbid psychiatric disorders, and second, to investigate the relevance of these neurocognitive functions explaining internalising and externalising symptoms. METHOD We recruited 45 children (Mage = 9.5, SDage = 1.7; range 6-13 years) with MBID (Full-Scale IQ 50-85) and at least one psychiatric disorder. Neurocognitive functioning was examined utilising the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - Fifth Edition (WISC-V) indices and the Cognitive Task Application (COTAPP), a comprehensive computerised self-paced task designed in such a manner that 'g' (an overall tendency of children with MBID to execute tasks with a slower reaction time and a higher error rate) has been corrected for in the administration of the task (i.e. completely self-paced) and in the operationalisation of outcome measures. Behavioural problems were measured using the CBCL and TRF. One-sample t-tests and binomial tests were carried out to compare performance with normative data. Regression analyses were used to examine the relationship between neurocognitive parameters and mental health. RESULTS Compared with normative data, very small to very large effect sizes were found, indicating clear heterogeneity amongst neurocognitive domains relevant for children with MBID. Two prominent neurocognitive weaknesses emerged: processing speed - characterised by slowness and unstableness combined with a high drift rate and delayed processing of the previous trial, particularly under higher cognitive demands - and working memory - in terms of a weaker central executive and 'slave' systems to temporarily store information. Both domains were not clearly predictive of internalising or externalising problems. CONCLUSION Children with MBID and psychiatric disorders are hampered by a strongly diminished processing speed and working memory capacity, together resulting in an overall limited processing capacity that may underlie the general developmental delays on domains that depend on fast and parallel processing of information (i.e. language, reading, mathematics and more complex forms of social cognition). Neurocognitive vulnerabilities are neither necessary nor sufficient to explain internalising and externalising problems; rather, a mismatch between the support needs and adaptations these children need, arising from their diminished processing capacity, and the inadequacy of the environment to compensate for this vulnerability may be of relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- E. Santegoeds
- Department of Mild Intellectual DisabilitiesKarakter Child and Adolescent PsychiatryEdeThe Netherlands
| | - E. van der Schoot
- Department of Mild Intellectual DisabilitiesKarakter Child and Adolescent PsychiatryEdeThe Netherlands
| | - S. Roording‐Ragetlie
- Department of Mild Intellectual DisabilitiesKarakter Child and Adolescent PsychiatryEdeThe Netherlands
| | - H. Klip
- Karakter Child and Adolescent PsychiatryNijmegenThe Netherlands
| | - N. Rommelse
- Department of Mild Intellectual DisabilitiesKarakter Child and Adolescent PsychiatryEdeThe Netherlands
- Karakter Child and Adolescent PsychiatryNijmegenThe Netherlands
- Department of PsychiatryRadboud University Medical CenterNijmegenThe Netherlands
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Schworer EK, Esbensen AJ, Fidler DJ, Beebe DW, Carle A, Wiley S. Evaluating working memory outcome measures for children with Down syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2022; 66:195-211. [PMID: 33763953 PMCID: PMC8463631 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 03/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND There is a critical need for the psychometric evaluation of outcome measures to be used in clinical trials targeting cognition in Down syndrome (DS). This study examines a specific cognitive skill that is of particular importance in DS, working memory, and the psychometric properties of a set of standardised measurements to assess working memory in individuals with DS. METHODS Ninety children and adolescents ages 6 to 18 years old with DS were assessed on a selection of verbal and visuospatial working memory subtests of standardised clinical assessments at two time points to examine feasibility, distributional qualities, test-retest reliability and convergent validity against a priori criteria. Caregivers also completed an adaptive behaviour questionnaire to address working memory subtests' associations with broader developmental functioning. RESULTS The Stanford Binet-5 Verbal Working Memory, Differential Ability Scales-2 Recognition of Pictures, Stanford Binet-5 Nonverbal Working Memory and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-5 Picture Span measures met the most psychometric criteria overall across the full age and IQ range of the study. Although Differential Ability Scales-2 Recall of Sequential Order and Differential Ability Scales-2 Recall of Digits Backward met the fewest a priori criteria, follow-up analyses suggested greater feasibility in specific age and IQ ranges. CONCLUSIONS Several working memory measures appear to be psychometrically sound and appropriate for use in clinical trials for children with DS, especially when focusing on raw scores. However, floor effects on standard scores and feasibility of some measures were problematic. Guidelines for use of the working memory subtests with this population are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily K. Schworer
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Anna J. Esbensen
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Deborah J. Fidler
- Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Dean W. Beebe
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Behavioral Medicine and Clinical Psychology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Adam Carle
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- James M Anderson Center for Health Systems Excellence, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Psychology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Susan Wiley
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Spaniol M, Danielsson H. A meta-analysis of the executive function components inhibition, shifting, and attention in intellectual disabilities. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2022; 66:9-31. [PMID: 34498787 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12878] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/11/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Executive function is a concept for higher-order cognitive functions, which have the role of controller and modulator of cognitive abilities. The consensus in the literature is that people with an intellectual disability perform significantly lower on executive function tasks than groups matched on chronological age. The comparison with groups matched on mental age is less clear. Therefore, the objective of this meta-analysis was to investigate to what extent executive function is impaired in people with intellectual disability compared with a typically developing control group matched on mental age. It was also investigated if the executive function component and intellectual disability aetiology moderated the effect. METHODS Eligibility criteria were participants with intellectual disability (IQ ≤ 75) without a dual diagnosis; a comparison group matched on mental age; executive function outcome reported in a group comparison study design with n ≥ 10. Working memory tasks and ratings of executive function were not included. The literature search yielded 6637 potentially interesting articles. Twenty-six studies (with 99 effect sizes) including 1395 participants were included in the quantitative synthesis. RESULTS A multilevel random-effects meta-analysis found that people with intellectual disability performed statistically significantly lower than the mental age-matched group on the executive function tasks, g = -0.34, 95% confidence interval = [-0.53, -0.16]. However, the heterogeneity between effect sizes was large. The intellectual disability aetiology moderator was significant, but it only reduced the heterogeneity marginally. CONCLUSION The overall conclusion is that individuals with an intellectual disability have more problems with executive function tasks than mental age-matched controls. Limitations are the large unexplained variance and the remarkably high number (69) of different tests that were used, which make more detailed conclusions problematic. This meta-analysis implies that future studies need to be of better quality, to have higher power, and to a higher degree use the same executive function tests.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Spaniol
- Cognitive Science, Osnabrück University, Osnabrück, Germany
- Faculty of Medicine, University of Cologne and Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital Cologne, Cologne, Germany
| | - H Danielsson
- Department of Behavioural Sciences and Learning, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
- Swedish Institute for Disability Research, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Schworer EK, Fidler DJ, Kaur M, Needham AW, Prince MA, Daunhauer LA. Infant precursors of executive function in Down syndrome. JOURNAL OF INTELLECTUAL DISABILITY RESEARCH : JIDR 2022; 66:108-120. [PMID: 33650746 DOI: 10.1111/jir.12824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Revised: 01/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Although early features of infant cognition are predictive of executive function (EF) in typically developing (TD) children, there is little information regarding the developmental origins of EF in neurogenetic conditions, such as Down syndrome (DS). METHODS The current study compared the performance of infants with and without DS on three dimensions that are hypothesised EF precursors: visual engagement, attention shifting and action planning. Additionally, the relationship between these EF precursors at Time 1 and EF performance at Time 2 (6 months later) was examined in the DS group. Participants were 36 infants with DS, M chronological age = 12.65 months, SD = 2.11; M developmental age = 8.84 months, SD = 2.22, and 36 TD infants, M chronological age = 8.62, SD = 3.06; M developmental age = 8.64 months, SD = 3.40. RESULTS Infants with DS visually engaged with objects for longer durations and demonstrated challenges with action planning compared with TD infants at Time 1. Attention shifting at Time 1 significantly predicted EF performance at Time 2 in the DS group. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence that an early atypical presentation of EF precursors is detectable during infancy in DS and is predictive of subsequent EF performance. These findings contribute to the identification of areas of early cognitive risk in DS and can inform future interventions in this population.
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Affiliation(s)
- E K Schworer
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - D J Fidler
- Human Development and 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
- Department of Psychology, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - L A Daunhauer
- Human Development and Family Studies, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
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Will EA, Schworer EK, Esbensen AJ. [Formula: see text] The role of distinct executive functions on adaptive behavior in children and adolescents with Down syndrome. Child Neuropsychol 2021; 27:1054-1072. [PMID: 33938385 PMCID: PMC8484022 DOI: 10.1080/09297049.2021.1917531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Difficulties in executive function are a relatively well-characterized feature of the neuropsychological profile in Down syndrome (DS), yet the impact of these challenges on aspects of daily functioning remain poorly understood. We examined the role of specific executive functions on domains of adaptive behavior in children and adolescents with DS. Participants included 68 children and adolescents with DS between 6-17 years old (mean chronological age = 12.56 years; SD = 3.22) and their caregivers. Parent reported executive function skills were measured using the BRIEF-2 and adaptive behavior was measured using the Vineland Adaptive Behavior Scales-III. Results identified working memory as a significant predictor of Communication, Daily Living, and Socialization skills, and Shifting significantly predicted Daily Living and Socialization. Findings demonstrate the relation between executive functions and adaptive behavior and highlight the effects of working memory on aspects of daily functioning for individuals with DS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Emily K Schworer
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Anna J Esbensen
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
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Jojoa-Acosta MF, Signo-Miguel S, Garcia-Zapirain MB, Gimeno-Santos M, Méndez-Zorrilla A, Vaidya CJ, Molins-Sauri M, Guerra-Balic M, Bruna-Rabassa O. Executive Functioning in Adults with Down Syndrome: Machine-Learning-Based Prediction of Inhibitory Capacity. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182010785. [PMID: 34682531 PMCID: PMC8536074 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2021] [Revised: 10/01/2021] [Accepted: 10/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The study of executive function decline in adults with Down syndrome (DS) is important, because it supports independent functioning in real-world settings. Inhibitory control is posited to be essential for self-regulation and adaptation to daily life activities. However, cognitive domains that most predict the capacity for inhibition in adults with DS have not been identified. The aim of this study was to identify cognitive domains that predict the capacity for inhibition, using novel data-driven techniques in a sample of adults with DS (n = 188; 49.47% men; 33.6 ± 8.8 years old), with low and moderate levels of intellectual disability. Neuropsychological tests, including assessment of memory, attention, language, executive functions, and praxis, were submitted to Random Forest, support vector machine, and logistic regression algorithms for the purpose of predicting inhibition capacity, assessed with the Cats-and-Dogs test. Convergent results from the three algorithms show that the best predictors for inhibition capacity were constructive praxis, verbal memory, immediate memory, planning, and written verbal comprehension. These results suggest the minimum set of neuropsychological assessments and potential intervention targets for individuals with DS and ID, which may optimize potential for independent living.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mario Fernando Jojoa-Acosta
- eVIDA—Lab, Faculty of Engineering, Deusto University, 48007 Bilbao, Spain; (M.F.J.-A.); (M.B.G.-Z.); (A.M.-Z.)
| | - Sara Signo-Miguel
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sports Sciences Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, 08022 Barcelona, Spain; (S.S.-M.); (M.G.-S.); (M.M.-S.); (M.G.-B.)
| | | | - Mercè Gimeno-Santos
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sports Sciences Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, 08022 Barcelona, Spain; (S.S.-M.); (M.G.-S.); (M.M.-S.); (M.G.-B.)
| | - Amaia Méndez-Zorrilla
- eVIDA—Lab, Faculty of Engineering, Deusto University, 48007 Bilbao, Spain; (M.F.J.-A.); (M.B.G.-Z.); (A.M.-Z.)
| | - Chandan J. Vaidya
- Department of Psychology, Georgetown University, Washington, DC 20057, USA;
| | - Marta Molins-Sauri
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sports Sciences Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, 08022 Barcelona, Spain; (S.S.-M.); (M.G.-S.); (M.M.-S.); (M.G.-B.)
| | - Myriam Guerra-Balic
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sports Sciences Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, 08022 Barcelona, Spain; (S.S.-M.); (M.G.-S.); (M.M.-S.); (M.G.-B.)
| | - Olga Bruna-Rabassa
- Faculty of Psychology, Education and Sports Sciences Blanquerna, Ramon Llull University, 08022 Barcelona, Spain; (S.S.-M.); (M.G.-S.); (M.M.-S.); (M.G.-B.)
- Correspondence:
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Moreno DG, Utagawa EC, Arva NC, Schafernak KT, Mufson EJ, Perez SE. Postnatal Cytoarchitecture and Neurochemical Hippocampal Dysfunction in Down Syndrome. J Clin Med 2021; 10:jcm10153414. [PMID: 34362198 PMCID: PMC8347520 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10153414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2021] [Revised: 07/27/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the prenatal hippocampus displays deficits in cellular proliferation/migration and volume, which are later associated with memory deficits, little is known about the effects of trisomy 21 on postnatal hippocampal cellular development in Down syndrome (DS). We examined postnatal hippocampal neuronal profiles from autopsies of DS and neurotypical (NTD) neonates born at 38-weeks’-gestation up to children 3 years of age using antibodies against non-phosphorylated (SMI-32) and phosphorylated (SMI-34) neurofilament, calbindin D-28k (Calb), calretinin (Calr), parvalbumin (Parv), doublecortin (DCX) and Ki-67, as well as amyloid precursor protein (APP), amyloid beta (Aβ) and phosphorylated tau (p-tau). Although the distribution of SMI-32-immunoreactive (-ir) hippocampal neurons was similar at all ages in both groups, pyramidal cell apical and basal dendrites were intensely stained in NTD cases. A greater reduction in the number of DCX-ir cells was observed in the hippocampal granule cell layer in DS. Although the distribution of Calb-ir neurons was similar between the youngest and oldest NTD and DS cases, Parv-ir was not detected. Conversely, Calr-ir cells and fibers were observed at all ages in DS, while NTD cases displayed mainly Calr-ir fibers. Hippocampal APP/Aβ-ir diffuse-like plaques were seen in DS and NTD. By contrast, no Aβ1–42 or p-tau profiles were observed. These findings suggest that deficits in hippocampal neurogenesis and pyramidal cell maturation and increased Calr immunoreactivity during early postnatal life contribute to cognitive impairment in DS.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G. Moreno
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (D.G.M.); (E.C.U.); (E.J.M.)
| | - Emma C. Utagawa
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (D.G.M.); (E.C.U.); (E.J.M.)
| | - Nicoleta C. Arva
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60611, USA;
| | - Kristian T. Schafernak
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Phoenix Children’s Hospital, Phoenix, AZ 85016, USA;
| | - Elliott J. Mufson
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (D.G.M.); (E.C.U.); (E.J.M.)
| | - Sylvia E. Perez
- Department of Neurobiology, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ 85013, USA; (D.G.M.); (E.C.U.); (E.J.M.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +6-02-406-3342
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Esbensen AJ, Hoffman EK, Shaffer RC, Patel LR, Jacola LM. Relationship Between Parent and Teacher Reported Executive Functioning and Maladaptive Behaviors in Children With Down Syndrome. AMERICAN JOURNAL ON INTELLECTUAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2021; 126:307-323. [PMID: 34161563 PMCID: PMC8244734 DOI: 10.1352/1944-7558-126.4.307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
The current study evaluates the concurrent relationship between parent ratings of executive functioning and maladaptive behavior among children and adolescents with Down syndrome and then repeats this evaluation using teacher reports. Parents and teachers of 63 school-age children with Down syndrome rated the child's executive functioning (Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function) and behaviors (Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist). For parent and teacher ratings, elevated behavior dysregulation predicted higher levels of rule-breaking, aggressive, and externalizing behavior. For teacher ratings, elevated behavior dysregulation also predicted higher levels of inattention problems. Among both parent and teacher ratings, greater metacognitive difficulties predicted challenges with attention. Understanding the relationship between these constructs has important implications for targets of intervention and developing preventative strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna J. Esbensen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
| | - Emily K. Hoffman
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
| | - Rebecca C. Shaffer
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine
- Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center
| | - Lina R. Patel
- Sie Center for Down Syndrome, Children’s Hospital Colorado
| | - Lisa M. Jacola
- Department of Psychology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital
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50
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Del Hoyo Soriano L, Rosser TC, Hamilton DR, Harvey DJ, Abbeduto L, Sherman SL. Relationship between Apgar scores and long-term cognitive outcomes in individuals with Down syndrome. Sci Rep 2021; 11:12707. [PMID: 34135349 PMCID: PMC8208985 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-90651-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
This study examined the contribution of the Apgar score at 1 and 5 min after birth to later cognitive functioning in 168 individuals with Down syndrome who were between 6 and 25 years of age at time of cognitive testing. Our results showed that a lower Apgar score at 1 min was related to a worse performance in later cognitive measures of receptive vocabulary, verbal comprehension and production, visual memory and working memory. Results also showed that a lower Apgar score at 5 min was only related to worse later outcomes of verbal comprehension and production and auditory working memory. Our findings suggest a need for future studies investigating how specific perinatal events reflected in the Apgar score are linked to later cognitive functioning in individuals with Down syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Del Hoyo Soriano
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA.
| | - Tracie C Rosser
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Debra R Hamilton
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Danielle J Harvey
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Leonard Abbeduto
- Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, MIND Institute University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Stephanie L Sherman
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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