Research on Learning in Children with Down Syndrome in Denver at the National Down Syndrome Congress

The DS360 network is hoping to include individuals with Down syndrome in an important research study during the NDSC Convention in Denver in July. Funded by the RDS and DSRTF, this Down Syndrome Cognition Project study uses the Arizona Cognitive Test Battery (ACTB) to assess cognitive function in relation to health factors and genetics in children with Down syndrome. You are also invited to stop by the DS360 booth at the conference to learn more about this nation-wide, multi-center study.

(And of course, we encourage you to stop by the RDS booth as well!)

Here is more information about the study and scheduling a time in Denver: 

Research on Learning in Children with Down Syndrome in Denver at the National Down Syndrome Congress Convention
July 19 -21, 2013

The Psychology Department at the University of Arizona is looking for volunteers in a study on Down syndrome. Participants will be compensated for their time. If your child has been diagnosed with Down syndrome and is between 7 and 17 years of age, and you would like to obtain more information about the study, please call 520-626-0244 or write an email to carlosfi@email.arizona.edu. 

They will be in Denver and testing can occur during the conference times.

A Night of Art and Blues: RDS Fundraiser in South Bend, IN

Here is an impressive video produced by the event coordinators of A Night of Art and Blues, a fundraiser for Research Down Syndrome being held in South Bend, IN on May 11. Parents and others speak about the remarkable revolution underway in research to understand and treat learning disabilities in Down syndrome. Join the Revolution by donating to the event here. 

 

RDS Co-Sponsors Down Syndrome/Alzheimer’s Disease Workshop

RDS was a co-sponsor of Advancing Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease in Individuals with Down Syndrome, held April 15-16, near Washington, D.C. Twelve presentations with follow up panel discussions were grouped in the following areas:
 

1. Disease Mechanisms

2. Model Systems for Studying Connections between AD and Ds

3. Cognitive Outcomes Measures

4. Biomarkers

5. Developing Therapeutics
 

For each of the sections, attendees discussed 1) Current strengths and weaknesses in areas of research, 2) What can be done right now to promote research?, and 3) What should be our long term objectives?
 

This was an extraordinary exchange of ideas from the world’s leading researchers, sharing information on how Ds research might help inform research on AD treatments, and vice versa.
 

One example of this synergy is the Down Syndrome Biomarker Initiative, in which clinicians will track the brains of people with Down syndrome as they age to learn about healthy brain aging in this population and the potential progression to Alzheimer’s disease. Read about this study here. 

 

[ http://neurosciences.ucsd.edu/centers/down-syndrome-center/research/Pages/c… ]