Published July 11, 2025 · Frontiers in Human Neuroscience Cortical visual impairment (CVI)—a neurological condition affecting how the brain processes visual information—is now recognized as the most common cause of childhood visual impairment in the U.S. Yet its occurrence alongside Down syndrome (DS) remains underdiagnosed. A new case series in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience explores […]

Two new studies, one focused on children with complex medical needs and the other on adults, shed fresh light on how widespread and serious respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections can be and the unique susceptibility infants born with Down syndrome may have. Children with Complex Medical Conditions Face Highest RSV Hospitalization Risk A study published […]

A groundbreaking USC Leonard Davis School study published on June 19, 2025, shines new light on why people with Down syndrome (DS) may develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD) earlier and more aggressively—iron may be a core culprit. 1. Why Focus on Iron? 2. Key Research Findings In comparing postmortem samples from individuals with DS + AD […]

For many parents of children with Down syndrome, the diagnosis feels permanent—rooted in every cell of the body. That’s because Down syndrome is caused by something very specific: an extra copy of chromosome 21. Most of us have two copies of each chromosome, but people with Down syndrome have three copies of number 21—this is […]

Parenting is a demanding journey, and for those raising children with intellectual disabilities, it comes with a unique set of challenges1. Beyond the daily demands, there are often unseen struggles, and one crucial area that can be impacted is a child’s Parenting is a demanding journey, and for those raising children with intellectual disabilities, it […]

Genetic Clues to Anxiety in Children with Down Syndrome: What Parents Should Know Anxiety is one of the most common 8 o’clock mental health challenges faced by children with Down syndrome, yet it’s often underdiagnosed or misunderstood. Traditional diagnostic tools—built for the general population—frequently miss the signs of anxiety in kids with developmental disabilities. But […]

MIT scientists have found a way to restore memory and boost brain function in mice with Down syndrome using a simple combination of light and sound. The treatment, called GENUS (gamma entrainment using sensory stimulation), uses flashing lights and pulsing sounds at 40Hz. After just one hour a day for three weeks, the mice showed […]

In an extraordinary case that’s turning heads in Alzheimer’s research, a woman with Down syndrome has defied all expectations—and potentially changed how scientists understand the disease. Despite showing advanced signs of Alzheimer’s disease in her brain, she remained cognitively stable into her 60s, a decade beyond when most people with Down syndrome begin to show […]

In a remarkable medical first, a baby boy named KJ Muldoon, born with a devastating rare genetic disease, is doing well after receiving a groundbreaking CRISPR-based therapy designed uniquely for him. This “therapy-for-one” marks a significant step in the world of personalized medicine. KJ, now nearly ten months old, had a condition called CPS-1 deficiency, […]

New research is shedding more light on the developmental landscape for children with Down syndrome, highlighting an increased likelihood of them also having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and/or Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). These conditions, when occurring alongside a primary diagnosis like Down syndrome, are often referred to as comorbidities. For parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers, this […]