New on Down Syndrome Online

Precise descriptions of Down syndrome

This article discusses two recent research papers reporting on the behavioural phenotype (or specific profile of strengths and weaknesses) associated with Down syndrome. Full article available at: www.down-syndrome.org/research-highlights/2042

Cholesterol and Alzheimer type dementia among adults with Down syndrome

This article presents a summary of research by Warren Zigman and colleagues investigating the link between cholesterol levels and Alzheimer type dementia among adults with Down syndrome. Full article available at: www.down-syndrome.org/research-highlights/2052

Families and schools influence academic achievements

In this article, Sue Buckley summarises research by Stephen Turner and colleagues which identifies both school and parental factors that influence the academic progress of children with Down syndrome through to their adult lives. Full text available at: www.down-syndrome.org/research-highlights/2091

An unusual profile

The role of Trisomy 21 in causing specific speech and language development is discussed by Paoloni-Giacobino and colleagues in a recent report of the development of a 14 year old girl with mosaic Down syndrome.

doi:10.3104/research-highlights.2039

Exceptional reading among young people with Down syndrome

It seems unlikely that a child with Down syndrome will have age-appropriate reading skills yet show significant delay on measures of verbal and non-verbal mental age yet this is the pattern reported by Margriet Groen and colleagues in a detailed case study of KS aged 8 years. The paper reports three studies exploring different facets of the reading skills shown by KS.

doi:10.3104/research-highlights.2040

Learning to talk

Most children and adults with Down syndrome experience significant difficulty with speech and language skills. Few achieve clear and fluent speech and few can express what they wish to communicate effectively because of delays in learning all the vocabulary and the grammar that they need. In recent years, there has been a large research effort exploring all aspects of speech and language development, from birth to adolescent years in particular.

doi:10.3104/research-highlights.2041

Brothers and sisters and Down syndrome

The literature reporting on behavioural issues and adjustment in brothers and sisters of a child with Down syndrome provides conflicting findings – some studies reporting no effects and some reporting negative effects. Difference in measures and design may explain some of the contradictory findings.

doi:10.3104/research-highlights.2043