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Down Syndrome NSW
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Tuesday 5 May 2015

Research news and commentary # 3 for 2015


Recognizing the Pioneers in Down Syndrome Research – 2015 Awards
15+ (Lumind Foundation), 30th April 2015
Our inaugural event will honor five exceptional people who helped advance Down syndrome research ...
Founders’ Award – Presented to Jim White and Patty O’Brien White on behalf of all those who were a part of the creation of the organization. This is a legacy award to be presented in 2016 and beyond to those who make an impact to the advancement of research.
Dr. David Cox Rising Star Award – Presented to Dr. Jamie Edgin, University of Arizona
Dr. William Cohen Researcher of Distinction Award – Presented to Dr. William Mobley, University of California, San Diego
Luminary Award – Presented to Sarah Wernikoff, former Chairperson, LuMind Research Down Syndrome Foundation
Angela Townsend, Cleveland.com, 23rd April 2015
Dr. Alberto Costa didn't start out as a Down syndrome researcher. But when his daughter was born with the condition in 1995, his career quickly changed course. Today Costa, a professor at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, is one of the leading Down syndrome researchers in the world. He's overseeing studies that, if successful, could set the stage for new drug development in the next decade that improves memory and other cognitive function in adults with Down syndrome ...

US researchers hope to treat unborn babies diagnosed with Down Syndrome in utero
PM (ABC Radio), 14th April 2015
Researchers in America are hoping to improve the quality of the life of children with Down Syndrome by treating unborn babies diagnosed with the condition before they are born. The team from the US University Tufts is looking into whether highly concentrated anti-oxidants can improve brain development in the womb.  The idea, which remains in its infancy, has been presented to the World Congress of Gynaecology in Brisbane ...

Researchers aim to treat Down syndrome in womb
Craig Butt, Sydney Morning Herald, 14th April 2015
... Professor Diana Bianchi of the US-based Tufts University presented research on the potential of fetal treatment for the common birth defects at the RCOG World Congress in Brisbane on Tuesday.

"Our goal is to eventually come up with a single drug or a cocktail of drugs to try in a human prenatal trial to see if there actually is improvement in brain development and performance in human babies," she said. She said it is possible to determine whether Down syndrome was present about 12 weeks into the pregnancy, which meant there was "a potential 28-week window of opportunity to treat the fetus" ...
Brian Skotko, Facebook, 14th April 2015
First child with Down syndrome successfully implanted without event and went home on the first day after surgery! More details here.

Mammorams in women with Down syndrome
Adult Down Syndrome Clinic,  Facebook, 14th April 2015
Our study on mammograms in women with Down syndrome was just published in the journal, Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.

Our findings were the first in the United States to confirm studies in other countries that breast cancer is uncommon in women with Down syndrome as well as look at the benefit and cost of mammograms in women with DS. In the discussion section, we call into question the utility of mammograms in women with DS.

We will bring this information to a national conference this summer and at an international conference this fall in which health care guidelines for people with DS will be discussed.
The abstract only is available to read online.  
Brain imaging changes in individuals with Down's may help advance Alzheimer's trials
Medical Express, 14th April 2015
Researchers have characterized three different brain imaging changes in individuals with Down syndrome, who are at very high risk for development of Alzheimer's disease, even before the onset of progressive memory and thinking problems. Their findings could help set the stage to evaluate promising treatments to slow down or prevent the onset of Alzheimer's symptoms in these individuals, according to a study published in Alzheimer's and Dementia ...
Drug trial holds promise for Down syndrome, Alzheimer's
Jessica Firger, CBS News, 21st March 2015
Nineteen-year-old Patrick McGuire lives for video games, has crushes on girls, does chores and sometimes gets grounded by his parents when he doesn't follow their rules -- just like millions of other teens. But Patrick has some extra needs and health challenges that come with having Down syndrome. Patrick has also taken part in a potentially groundbreaking experiment: testing a new drug that could help improve memory and cognition in people with Down syndrome and possibly patients with Alzheimer's ...

Lines of Inquiry, Edition 8, April 2015

Using actors with learning disabilities during training to improve doctors’ communication and diagnostic skills
Learning Disabilities Elf, 15th April 2015
People with learning disabilities often have additional health conditions or mental health problems and so may have increased need for medical interventions. However, people with learning disabilities have more unmet health needs and struggle to access treatment. It is suggested this is due to health practitioners failing to make reasonable adjustments and poor communication between people with learning disabilities, their carers and health professionals ...

News about the research is spreading around the world but more families need to find out about Stepping Stones Triple P 
Matt Saunders, Triple P Blog, 23rd April 2015
At a time when educators, parents and policy advisors in Australia are grappling with how to deal with the emotional and behavioural needs of children with disabilities, Stepping Stones Triple P is demonstrating it can provide at least some of the answers ...

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