Down Syndrome Online offers comprehensive information about Down syndrome, including articles, books and scientific papers.

Down Syndrome Online is published by Down Syndrome Education International, a leading research and information organisation. Publications currently available include:

• Articles from the journal Down Syndrome Research and Practice
• Books in the Down Syndrome Issues and Information series

New information is regularly added. Subscribe to our New on Down Syndrome Online news feed and sign up to our email news to stay up to date.

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Global Education Fund launched

Down Syndrome Education International has launched a Global Education Fund to support work to improve the lives of all young people with Down syndrome wherever they live with a particular focus on those most in need.

Taking the opportunity of World Down Syndrome Day 2009 to draw attention to the plight of children born with Down syndrome in low and middle income countries, the charity pledged to take action to help avoid up to 1 million unnecessary early deaths among infants with Down syndrome over the next decade.

• Read the call for support...
• Read the Press Release...

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Recent highlights and features

Learning to learn

Aspects of short and long-term memory can present challenges for people with Down syndrome. Some of these impact language development and many other aspects of learning.

To what extent can we do something about these difficulties? Can practice improve memory abilities? Past research suggests it is possible. What further research is needed?

• Update: It is time to take memory training seriously
• Review: Memory and neuropsychology in Down syndrome
• Book: Memory development for individuals with Down syndrome– An overview

In the archives:

• Report: Memory training for children with Down syndrome
• Report: Long-term maintenance of memory skills taught to children with Down syndrome
• Report: Teaching short term memory skills to children with Down syndrome

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Reading

Reading is often a relative strength for young people who have Down syndrome. Early reading can provide a useful support for early language development.

Young people with Down syndrome are increasingly gaining useful reading skills. Some are achieving age-typical reading skills. What accounts for wide variations in progress? What further research is needed to identify the most effective ways of teaching reading?

• Update: Exceptional reading among young people with Down syndrome
• Review: The development of literacy skills in children with Down syndrome: Implications for intervention

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'Smart' mice

Mice that carry additional copies of genes comparable to some of those present on human chromosome 21 have been shown to perform better on memory tests when treated with drugs that target brain function. Could this be an important breakthrough?

What are these genetically engineered mice and how do they help us understand the condition experienced by humans who have Down syndrome?

• Update: Modelling Down syndrome
• Update: Drug treatment improves memory in mice
• Review: Memory and learning – using mouse to model neurobiological and behavioural aspects of Down syndrome and assess pharmacotherapeutics

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Folate metabolism

It has been suggested that certain versions of some genes can increase the risk of conceiving a baby with Down syndrome. If this is the case, then people who have Down syndrome may be more likely to carry these versions of these genes and perhaps experience associated problems in folate metabolism. Studies to date have found conflicting results, suggesting that these gene variants may be part of a more complex picture.

• Update: Folate metabolism and the risk of Down syndrome
• Report: Prevalence of MTHFR C677T polymorphism in north Indian mothers having babies with Trisomy 21 Down syndrome

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The costs of genetic screening policies

Despite the wide availability of prenatal genetic screening and terminations, the rate at which babies who have Down syndrome are being born is rising in England and Wales. Meanwhile, many babies that do not have Down syndrome are lost following invasive testing.

An editorial in Down Syndrome Research and Practice presents an analysis of national registry data and the issues raised by genetic screening in practice. It is accompanied by a essay describing a mothers' experiences of prenatal testing.

• Editorial: Wrongful deaths and rightful lives – screening for Down syndrome
• Essay: Motherhood and genetic screening: a personal perspective

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Seeing numbers

Understanding number concepts and basic mathematical skills is important for many everyday activities in modern societies. Little is understood about the numeracy abilities of people with Down syndrome. However, some teaching approaches that seek to utilise certain relative strengths to communicate number concepts seem to be useful in practice.

• Update: Teaching numeracy