New Research

[Guest guest]

Monday, 16 June, 2008

New research on the brain in Down syndrome + autism

This news report was published in Ability Magazine, Vol 2008 April/May (the

Lee Issue). The reference to the research paper is given below.

Correlations of Autistic Behaviors Shown in Children with Down Syndrome In a

continuation of his research looking at children with a co-diagnosis of both

autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and other well-known genetic disorders, Dr.

Walter E. Kaufmann and colleagues recently published a study that examined

the difference in brain structure between children with either Down syndrome

alone and children with both Down syndrome and ASD. Dr. Kaufmann and his

research team at the Center for Genetic Disorders of Cognition and Behavior

(GCB Center) at the Kennedy Krieger Institute believe this will provide more

clues to the cause of autism, and lead to better diagnosis and care of

children with both Down syndrome and ASD.

The study, which appears in the online journal NeuroReport, used anatomic

MRIs to compare the brain scans of children with Down syndrome to children

with both Down syndrome and autism, as well as a control group of typically

developing children. The study found that the brains of children with a

co-diagnosis had significantly more white matter in the brainstem and

cerebellum when compared to children with Down syndrome alone. The data also

showed that children with both disorders exhibited an accelerated brain

growth between the ages of two and five years-old. The volume of white

matter in the children with a co-diagnosis tended to decrease slightly with

age, but the volumes of white matter remained relatively constant in the

group with Down syndrome alone.

The study supports the theory that the underlying cause of autism lies in

the cerebellum, particularly the enlargement of the cerebellum due to

increased white matter. The findings also suggest that the underlying

mechanisms of ASD in Down syndrome may be shared, at least in part, with

those in autism alone.

The early pattern of accelerated brain growth in childhood with Down

syndrome and a co-diagnosis of ASD resembles the pattern of head and brain

growth typically observed in children with autism alone and differs from

children with Down syndrome alone. These differences make it important for

researchers conducting brain imaging studies on Down syndrome to carefully

evaluate the presence of ASD, as autism in Down syndrome may often go

undiagnosed.

Perhaps most importantly, the increased white matter in individuals with

Down syndrome and a co-diagnosis of autism represents a distinguishing

feature that is associated with abnormal behaviors which are typically seen

in children with either disorder, namely repetitive motor movements known as

stereotypies.

Further research on autism in Down syndrome as well as autism in other

conditions may help clarify the causes and functional consequences of autism

in the general population.

http://abilitymagazine.com/news_Autistic_Down.html

[Guest guest]

Thanks Liz for posting, this is where I have found in interest on any

findings of individuals with the dual dx's of DS & AU's brain.

Especially after hearing about a Dr. Harry Schneider up in NY, he has

worked with several with DS & AU.

If I had the funds I would immediately like for to be under

their Functional MRI to check out as always curious.

Based around their research they can only guess at the etiology of the

symptomatology of these devastating conditions. Which could assist a

base treatment interventions on them, according to the research they

have applied especially those who are non-verbal which really caught

my interest.

This was the topic Dr. Schneider had shared at a conference out at the

Autism One this past May. Of course I had approached him to see if he

had worked with individuals with the dual dx's of the DS & AU.

The Discovery of Language-Specific Areas in the Brain of Non-Verbal

Children with Autism and Practical Application to Treatment: An

Emerging Theory

It is wonderful that there was an interest based on this research

shared on the Ability Magazine.

Very Interesting.

Irma,20,DS/ASD

>

> Monday, 16 June, 2008

> New research on the brain in Down syndrome + autism

> This news report was published in Ability Magazine, Vol 2008

April/May (the

> Lee Issue). The reference to the research paper is given below.

[Guest guest]

>

> I am always looking...

All worth it when it catches my interest, thanks!

Appreciate it very much.

Irma