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… Read more: Iron’s Hidden Impact on Alzheimer’s Risk in People with Down Syndrome

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… Read more: Down Syndrome Research: Scientists Move Closer to “Turning Off” the Extra Chromosome

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… Read more: The Hidden Link: How Parental Stress Affects Dental Health for Children with Disabilities

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… Read more: New Hope for Understanding Anxiety in Children with Down Syndrome: What the Latest Genomic Research Means for Your Family

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… Read more: Flashes of Hope: MIT’s Light and Sound Therapy Reverses Memory Loss in Down Syndrome Mice

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… Read more: How One Woman With Down Syndrome May Help Redefine Alzheimer’s Resilience

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,… Read more: A Medical First: Baby Thrives After Custom-Made Gene Therapy

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… Read more: Understanding the Full Picture: Down Syndrome, Autism, and ADHD