scholarly journals On the Design of Broad-Based Neuropsychological Test Batteries to Assess the Cognitive Abilities of Individuals with Down Syndrome in the Context of Clinical Trials

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ines Basten ◽  
Richard Boada ◽  
Hudson Taylor ◽  
Katherine Koenig ◽  
Veridiana Barrionuevo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Visual Processing ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Neuropsychological Test ◽  
Pilot Trial ◽  
Successful Implementation ◽  
The One

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetically-defined cause of intellectual disability. Neurodevelopmental deficits displayed by individuals with DS are generally global, however, disproportionate deficits in cognitive processes that depend heavily on the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex are also well documented. Additionally, DS is associated with relative strengths in visual processing and visuospatial short-term memory, and weaknesses in the verbal domain. Although reports of pharmacological rescuing of learning and memory deficits in mouse models of DS abound in the literature, proving the principle that cognitive ability of persons with DS can be boosted through pharmacological means is still an elusive goal. The design of customized batteries of neuropsychological efficacy outcome measures is essential for the successful implementation of clinical trials of potential cognitive enhancing strategies. Here, we review the neurocognitive phenotype of individuals with DS and major broad-based test batteries designed to quantify specific cognitive domains in these individuals, including the one used in a pilot trial of the drug memantine. The main goal is to illustrate the essential considerations in planning trials to enhance cognitive functions in individuals with DS, which should also have implications for the design of similar studies in individuals with other forms of intellectual disability.

Novel Therapeutics in Childhood Onset Psychiatric Disorders

2013 ◽  
pp. 1061-1064
Author(s):  
Dorothy E. Grice ◽  
Alexander Kolevzon ◽  
Walter E. Kaufmann ◽  
Joseph D. Buxbaum
Keyword(s):  
Autism Spectrum Disorder ◽  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Neurodevelopmental Disorders ◽  
Autism Spectrum ◽  
Model Systems ◽  
Childhood Onset ◽  
Preclinical Evaluation ◽  
Novel Therapeutics

Neurodevelopmental disorders are frequently the result of genetic and genomic abnormalities associated with high risk for disease. Creating analogous mutations in cell and animal models permits the assessment of underlying neurobiological mechanisms, generates clues about useful therapeutic targets, and provides systems for preclinical evaluation of novel therapeutics. This chapter briefly summarizes several clinical trials in neurodevelopmental disorders, all based on neurobiological findings in model systems, including trials in Down syndrome (DS) and several monogenic forms of intellectual disability (ID) and/or autism spectrum disorder (ASD).

scholarly journals Predictive Value of Traditional Measures of Executive Function on Broad Abilities of the Cattell–Horn–Carroll Theory of Cognitive Abilities

Assessment ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 26 (7) ◽  
pp. 1375-1385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Loes van Aken ◽  
Paul T. van der Heijden ◽  
Wouter Oomens ◽  
Roy P. C. Kessels ◽  
Jos I. M. Egger
Keyword(s):  
Visual Processing ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Fluid Intelligence ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Analytical Techniques ◽  
Multivariate Regression Analysis ◽  
Intelligence Tests ◽  
Chc Theory ◽  
Executive Processes ◽  
Predicting Performance

The neuropsychological construct of executive functions (EFs), and the psychometric Cattell–Horn–Carroll (CHC) theory of cognitive abilities are both approaches that attempt to describe cognitive functioning. The coherence between EF and CHC abilities has been mainly studied using factor-analytical techniques. Through multivariate regression analysis, the current study now assesses the integration of these latent constructs in clinical assessment. The predictive power of six widely used executive tasks on five CHC measures (crystallized and fluid intelligence, visual processing, short-term memory, and processing speed) is examined. Results indicate that executive tasks—except for the Stroop and the Tower of London—predict overall performance on the intelligence tests. Differentiation in predicting performance between the CHC abilities is limited, due to a high shared variance between these abilities. It is concluded that executive processes such as planning and inhibition have a unique variance that is not well-represented in intelligence tests. Implications for the use of EF tests and operationalization of CHC measures in clinical practice are discussed.

scholarly journals Ophthalmic Disorders in Adults with Down Syndrome

2012 ◽  
Vol 2012 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sharon J. Krinsky-McHale ◽  
Edmund C. Jenkins ◽  
Warren B. Zigman ◽  
Wayne Silverman
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Intellectual Disability ◽  
Visual Impairment ◽  
Children And Adolescents ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Medical Records ◽  
Refractive Errors ◽  
High Prevalence ◽  
Treatment Plans

A myriad of ophthalmic disorders is associated with the phenotype of Down syndrome including strabismus, cataracts, and refractive errors potentially resulting in significant visual impairment. Ophthalmic sequelae have been extensively studied in children and adolescents with Down syndrome but less often in older adults. In-depth review of medical records of older adults with Down syndrome indicated that ophthalmic disorders were common. Cataracts were the most frequent ophthalmic disorder reported, followed by refractive errors, strabismus, and presbyopia. Severity of intellectual disability was unrelated to the presence of ophthalmic disorders. Also, ophthalmic disorders were associated with lower vision-dependent functional and cognitive abilities, although not to the extent that was expected. The high prevalence of ophthalmic disorders highlights the need for periodic evaluations and individualized treatment plans for adults with Down syndrome, in general, but especially when concerns are identified.

scholarly journals Weighing up the Effects of Working Memory and Cognitive Abilities in CLIL Learning

2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (2) ◽  
pp. 113
Author(s):  
Laura Sánchez
Keyword(s):  
Working Memory ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Short Term Memory ◽  
Structural Complexity ◽  
Attention Switching ◽  
Native Languages ◽  
Memory And Attention ◽  
Functional Development ◽  
Lexical Complexity ◽  
The One

In an era of globalization, multilingualism is no longer the exception but the rule. To fully promote the commnicative and functional development of multilingual learners, different educational programs at school have been implemented in the past few years. The study presented here is a contribution in this direction, by investigating the linguistic development in a second foreign language (L3 English) of students who were exposed to asymmetric input exposure in this and another non-native language. This other language was the L2 (German), which the learners (n= 50, 11-13 years old) were studying in a CLIL context together with the native languages of the participants (Spanish and Catalan). Within such a context, the purpose of the study is two-fold. On the one hand, it attempts to investigate the linguistic attainment in the L3, measured in terms of various dimensions of writing performance in a composition task, namely, fluency, accuracy, structural complexity and lexical complexity. On the other hand, the study aimed at exploring the contribution of various components of working memory (short-term memory and attention switching) to performance in these linguistic dimensions. The results suggest that individual differences in storage capacity and in capability for attention and task switching had an effect on the accuracy of the learners’ performance, and to a lesser extent, also lexical complexity. Moreover, it was found that in general, attentional abilities had a greater impact than memory. These results are discussed in light of previous findings, while proposing directions for further investigation in the field.

UPAYA PENINGKATAN KEMAMPUAN MOTORIK KASAR ANAK DOWN SYNDROME DENGAN OLAHRAGA BOLA KAKI DI GOLDEN KIDS

2019 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 139-151
Author(s):  
Sinto Robindo ◽  
Melda Rumia Rosmeri Simorangkir
Keyword(s):  
Spinal Cord ◽  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Cognitive Abilities ◽  
Body Movement ◽  
Movement Control ◽  
Fine Motor ◽  
Educational Goals ◽  
Motor Movement ◽  
Brain And Spinal Cord ◽  
Syndrome Child

ABSTRACT All aspects of development are very important in a person's life where the development of cognition, affection and psychomotor is well developed in accordance with its development, these three aspects can be said to be good and successful if the three aspects develop well. Like wise with the psychomotor aspect where between gross motor and fine motor are also balanced. Motoric is the development of coordinated body movement control between nerves, brain, and spinal cord (spinal cord or spinal cord). Child's gross motorization can be optimized by improving his motor movement coordination skills through physical activity in the form of coordination of body movements. Like throwing, catching, kicking, running, melopat, and maintaining balance. The condition of a Down Syndrome child who experiences weakness in the ability to think will affect in all aspects of his life. Down syndrome children have problems in cognitive abilities, effective and self-care abilities. This results in them needing special education. Basically, the educational goals that children with Down Syndrome want to achieve are not different from those of education in general. Because Down Syndrome children themselves are born in the midst of society. Keywords: football sports, gross motoric, down syndrome

Reflections on FDA and WHO recommendations concerning clinical trials

1989 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 117-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.-F. Dreyfus ◽  
D. Cremniter ◽  
J.D. Guelfi
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Trials ◽  
Drug Users ◽  
Objective Evaluation ◽  
World Health ◽  
Measuring Instruments ◽  
New Techniques ◽  
The Usa ◽  
The One ◽  
Health Organization

SummaryWe are still confronted by numerous different nosographic models and problems concerning the objective evaluation of patients progress during treatment. It is interesting to consider the consequences of this situation in psychiatry which still involves a relative diversity of practical methods used in clinical trials. The recommendations of the USA Food and Drug Administration, on the one hand, constitute a highly structured and precise reference. The World Health Organization, on the other hand, promulgates general recommendations resulting from a compromise designed to satisfy the greatest number of clinicians.Despite the apparently diverse principles and the different practical methods they propose, both those sets of recommendations have been useful in inspiring clinicians to reflect upon these different methodological approaches. The qualities of the inclusion criteria used in the study of patients and the sensitivity of the different measuring instruments have allowed psychotropic drug users as well as producers to recognize the need for a certain rigour in clinical trials.The FDA and WHO guidelines have certainly improved the quality of clinical trials in psychopharmacology. However, they also represent a source of resistance to innovation.A series of consensus meetings to first reconcile US and European points of view and later to include new techniques in the recognized sets of methods would therefore be helpful.

scholarly journals Mutations Impairing GSK3-Mediated MAF Phosphorylation Cause Cataract, Deafness, Intellectual Disability, Seizures, and a Down Syndrome-like Facies

2015 ◽  
Vol 96 (5) ◽  
pp. 816-825 ◽  
Author(s):  
Marcello Niceta ◽  
Emilia Stellacci ◽  
Karen W. Gripp ◽  
Giuseppe Zampino ◽  
Maria Kousi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Down Syndrome ◽  
Intellectual Disability
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