A neuropsychological profile of Down syndrome: Cognitive skills and brain morphology

Abstract

In children and young adults with Down syndrome, there exists a profile of neuropsychological strengths and weaknesses. Verbal short-term memory skills are diminished relative t o subjects with mental retardation resulting from other etiologies. On the other hand, visual-motor skills are comparatively well preserved. This profile distinguishes the population having Down syndrome from other impaired populations, although it may be confounded by dementia in later adult years.Down syndrome also results in a characteristic profile of brain morphology. In vivo magnetic resonance imaging studies have shown that the frontal and temporal regions of the brain are proportionally diminished in Down syndrome, but that t h e volumes of the subcortical nuclei are similar t o those in control subjects. This profile of brain morphology appears t o correspond to both the neuropathologic data on Down syndrome and t o the profile of cognitive skills in individuals who have this syndrome. Impairment of fundamental cognitive processes such as phonologic short-term memory is likely t o have implications with regard t o higher-order psychological and academic processes. Effective educational intervention must take such impairments into account during the development of individualized educational plans. Q 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc. MRDD Research Reviews 2: 102-108 ~ ~~~~ ~~~~

Do Raven's Colored Progressive Matrices function in the same way in typical and clinical populations? Insights from the intellectual disability field

“…Indeed, research results of the last decades clearly show, for example in the cases of Down and Williams syndromes, how etiology can shape the psychological characteristics of persons with intellectual disability (Abbeduto & Chapman 2005;Bellugi et al, 2000;Chapman & Hesketh 2000;Devenny 2006;Dykens 2003;Hodapp & Dykens 2007;Jarrold et al, 2002;Mervis & Becerra 2007;Mervis & Morris 2007;Meyer-Lindenberg et al, 2006;Roberts et al, 2007;Rondal 2006;Silverman 2007;Vicari & Carlesimo 2006;Wang, 1996). Consequently, it is not possible to generalize the present findings to each of the numerous etiological groups now identified.…”

Are the cognitive functions of children with Down syndrome related to their participation?

“…This result is also important when considering reports that functional attainments earned in childhood seem to be maintained into adulthood in this population 30 . Adults with Down syndrome who are the most accomplished in terms of independence in daily living and maintaining paid employment are those who participated in structured school experiences aimed at teaching them specific skills, 5 yet reports of an IQ plateau or decrease beginning in early adulthood are common 31 . If the attainment of functional skills and abilities (which are maintained into adulthood) are dependent on IQ (which may decline with age) 1,7,12,17,20 or develop more slowly than in typically developing individuals, 15 it is essential to providing functionally focused interventions from the earliest possible age in children with Down syndrome.…”

“…30 Adults with Down syndrome who are the most accomplished in terms of independence in daily living and maintaining paid employ-ment are those who participated in structured school experiences aimed at teaching them specific skills, 5 yet reports of an IQ plateau or decrease beginning in early adulthood are common. 31 If the attainment of functional skills and abilities (which are maintained into adulthood) are dependent on IQ (which may decline with age) 1,7,12,17,20 or develop more slowly than in typically developing individuals, 15 it is essential to providing functionally focused interventions from the earliest possible age in children with Down syndrome. This need for early intervention focusing on function is further supported by the finding that the functional profile of children with Down syndrome does indeed improve with age.…”

Abnormal fMRI Activation Pattern During Story Listening in Individuals With Down Syndrome

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