Down syndrome is one of the most commonly occurring developmental disorders and it is now possible to conceptualize and define opportunities for neurocognitive rehabilitation for those with the condition. This book describes how early cognitive intervention in children with Down syndrome can be carried out, and can reduce, or compensate for, the major deficits characteristic of the condition. This comprehensive account relates the neurocognitive approach to the major therapeutic endeavors in the neighboring fields of neurogenetics, experimental environmental enrichment, molecular genetics, pharmacology, pediatrics and cardiology for infants with Down syndrome. Neurocognitive Rehabilitation of Down Syndrome provides the guidance required to establish effective rehabilitation programs, and is essential reading for developmental clinicians, pediatricians, neuropsychologists and other health professionals.
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common example of neurogenetic aneuploid disorder leading to mental retardation. In most cases, DS results from an extra copy of chromosome 21 (HSA21) producing deregulated gene expression in brain that gives raise to subnormal intellectual functioning. The topic of this volume is of broad interest for the neuroscience community, because it tackles the concept of neurogenomics, that is, how the genome as a whole contributes to a neurodevelopmental cognitive disorders, such as DS, and thus to the development, structure and function of the nervous system. This volume of Progress in Brain Research discusses comparative genomics, gene expression atlases of the brain, network genetics, engineered mouse models and applications to human and mouse behavioral and cognitive phenotypes. It brings together scientists of diverse backgrounds, by facilitating the integration of research directed at different levels of biological organization, and by highlighting translational research and the application of the existing scientific knowledge to develop improved DS treatments and cures. - Leading authors review the state-of-the-art in their field of investigation and provide their views and perspectives for future research - Chapters are extensively referenced to provide readers with a comprehensive list of resources on the topics covered - All chapters include comprehensive background information and are written in a clear form that is also accessible to the non-specialist
Research on the multiple aspects of cognitive impairment in Down syndrome (DS), from genes to behavior to treatment, has made tremendous progress in the last decade. The study of congenital intellectual disabilities such as DS is challenging since they originate from the earliest stages of development and both the acquisition of cognitive skills and neurodegenerative pathologies are cumulative. Comorbidities such as cardiac malformations, sleep apnea, diabetes and dementia are frequent in the DS population, as well, and their increased risk provides a means of assessing early stages of these pathologies that is relevant to the general population. Notably, persons with DS will develop the histopathology of Alzheimer’s disease (formation of neuritic plaques and tangles) and are at high risk for dementia, something that cannot be predicted in the population at large. Identification of the gene encoding the amyloid precursor protein, its localization to chromosome 21 in the 90’s and realization that all persons with DS develop pathology identified this as an important piece of the amyloid cascade hypothesis in Alzheimer’s disease. Awareness of the potential role of people with DS in understanding progression and treatment as well as identification of genetic risk factors and also protective factors for AD is reawakening. For the first time since DS was recognized, major pharmaceutical companies have entered the search for ameliorative treatments, and phase II clinical trials to improve learning and memory are in progress. Enriched environment, brain stimulation and alternative therapies are being tested while clinical assessment is improving, thus increasing the chances of success for therapeutic interventions. Researchers and clinicians are actively pursuing the possibility of prenatal treatments for many conditions, an area with a huge potential impact for developmental disorders such as DS. Our goal here is to present an overview of recent advances with an emphasis on behavioral and cognitive deficits and how these issues change through life in DS. The relevance of comorbidities to the end phenotypes described and relevance of pharmacological targets and possible treatments will be considerations throughout.
For individuals with Down syndrome, the extent of the effect of intellectual disability depends largely on the degree of provision of appropriate support and intervention. In Educating Learners with Down Syndrome, editors Rhonda Faragher and Barbara Clarke have brought together a number of expert contributors, whose chapters review recent findings in the field of DS education, highlight promising practices, and identify areas for future research. While the emphasis is primarily on the school years, links to early intervention and to life post-16 are made, with chapters organized into three parts: conceptual overview of issues in learning and teaching, learning mathematics, and literacy development. The book is also united by the cohesive themes of assessment, evidence-based practice, and inclusive practices. Educating Learners with Down Syndrome importantly incorporates the voices of individuals with Down syndrome, whose personal narratives add significance to the research mission of the text and demonstrate the authors' inclusive philosophy. Aimed at researchers, teacher educators, higher degree students, and policy makers, this book is the first of its kind to provide a compendium of research on educating learners with Down syndrome.
Genetics and Neurobiology of Down Syndrome provides a thorough review of the genetic etiology and mechanisms of trisomy 21. The author discusses the history of the syndrome, along with the clinical features and health consequences, including physical features, cognitive, and neurologic symptoms. Genetic counseling on pros and cons of prenatal screening and testing and associated ethical issues are explored. This unique book also covers the societal and demographic aspects as well as the future direction of therapeutic development. - Reviews genetic etiology and mechanisms of trisomy 21 - Discusses prenatal screening and genetic counseling, including ethical aspects - Explores link between Down Syndrome and susceptibility to Alzheimer's and early brain aging - Covers cognitive and neurological symptoms and other health consequences - Identifies future therapeutic developments
The development of self- and emotional regulatory processes helps children to regulate their behavior based on their cultural context and to develop positive social relationships. This handbook brings together heretofore disparate literatures on self- and emotional regulation, brain and physiological processes, mastery motivation, and atypical development to highlight how mastery motivation is related to self-regulation and to clarify the relation between these various processes. Authors from a variety of countries and backgrounds provide an integrated, up-to-date review of the research and the key theoretical models to demonstrate how these processes relate to cultural and individual differences in both typical and atypical development. The renowned editors, all experts in a particular domain of self-regulation, provide section opening chapters that review the literature, provide a perspective that explains the findings, and suggest directions for future research. Although the focus is on quantitative studies, some qualitative findings and research using brain imaging methodologies are included. Outstanding features include: Reviews the development of self and emotional regulation from infancy through adolescence. Contributors from various countries and backgrounds provide an integrative review of the literature to guide the direction of future research. Features contributions from those who have had a strong impact on self-regulation research. Reviews research on developmental disorders that have implications for self-regulation. There are four sections. Section one introduces the development of self- and emotional regulation. This section reviews how self-regulation adapts based on personal and culturally-based goals and how individual differences predispose some to behavior disorders. Socialization influences are examined including a look at when typical regulation processes go awry. Section 2 examines physiological and brain processes as they relate to the development of typical and atypical processes, along with neurocognitive development of performance monitoring and how these processes change over time, cortical activation differences, and behavioral and electrocortical measures of attentional bias. Section 3 reviews the development of self-regulation and mastery motivation including a review of the Dimensions of Mastery Questionnaire (DMQ), cross-national comparisons, and what the DMQ can tell us about self-regulation. The section concludes with a look at the development of self-regulation and mastery motivation in individuals with a developmental disability. Section 4 examines self-regulation in atypical development and evidence-based treatment approaches in children with ADHD, autism, and Down syndrome. This book is intended for researchers, graduate students, and practitioners in psychology, neuroscience, human development, and education interested in the development of self and emotional regulatory processes.
International Review of Research in Developmental Disabilities is an ongoing scholarly look at research into the causes, effects, classification systems, syndromes, etc. of developmental disabilities. Contributors come from wide-ranging perspectives, including genetics, psychology, education, and other health and behavioral sciences. Volume 42 of the series offers chapters on a variety of themes. - Provides the most recent scholarly research in the study of developmental disabilities - A vast range of perspectives is offered, and many topics are covered - An excellent resource for academic researchers
Written expressly for non-neuropsychologists, this book offers a concise, friendly introduction to the developing brain and its functions. Stephen R. Hooper renders complex concepts accessible as he describes the structure of the brain and the workings of the nervous system. The book explains how findings from neuropsychological assessments can help educators and clinicians to better understand and remediate children's difficulties. A range of neurodevelopmental and medical conditions that affect learning and behavior from early childhood through adolescence are explored through a neuropsychological lens. Helpful features include key Take-Home Points distilled from the chapters and recommended print and online resources.
This special issue is among the first volumes to examine the topic of early development in children with neurogenetic disorders associated with intellectual disability. It includes discussions of theoretical issues regarding the emergence of behavioural profiles during early development, as well as comprehensive accounts of early development in specific disorders such as Down syndrome, fragile X syndrome, Williams syndrome, and sex chromosome disorders. In addition, several contributions examine the latest clinical applications of this work for diagnosis, treatment, and education. The comprehensive nature of the reviews of early development in neurogenetic disorders provided by top researchers in the field of developmental disabilities research Innovation in the application of new approaches to this population, such dynamic systems theory and the developmental trajectory approach to studying these populations place this volume on the cutting edge of theoretical work in this area This volume also addresses the implications of emerging behavioural phenotypes in neurogenetic disorders from many angles-the biological issues related to diagnosis, psychiatric issues related to comorbid conditions such as autism and autism spectrum disorder, and educational issues related to targeted intervention
