The relation between the psychological functioning of children with Down syndrome and their urine peptide levels and levels of serum antibodies to food proteins

Abstract

-Aims:To investigate the relation between psychological functioning of subjects with Down syndrome, and their levels of urine peptide and serum antibodies to food proteins. Methods: 55 children with Down syndrome in a cross-sectional study. Psychological functioning was measured by the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale: Fourth Edition, McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities and Fagan's computer based test of novelty preference. Results: The participants, and their siblings, were found to have signifi cantly increased total urine peptide levels. There were no signifi cant correlations between peptide levels and psychological functioning. Signifi cantly increased levels of IgG activity to gliadin and gluten, and IgA activity to gliadin, gluten and casein were found. There were signifi cant negative correlations (Spearman r=-0.13 to -0.51) between psychological functioning, and IgG and IgA activity to gliadin and gluten. Conclusions: A signifi cant relation between antibodies to gluten and psychological functioning was documented. The mechanism and potential causal link are still unknown.

Measuring infant memory: Utility of the visual paired-comparison test paradigm for studies in developmental neurotoxicology

“…Tests of recognition memory, using the VPC test methodology, have provided a means to study the consequences of biological and environmental risk that include prenatal cocaine and alcohol exposure, premature birth, Down syndrome and iron deficiency anemia in human infants (Singer et al , 2005, Chiriboga et al , 2007, Gaultney et al , 2005, Jacobson et al , 1985, 2002, Guzzeta et al , 2006, Nygaard et al , 2001, Rose et al , 2001, Carter et al , 2010). …”