Study on Bike Riding in Downs Aged 10 or More and Treated by Drug Therapy

A group of 82 drug treated Down's syndrome subjects aged 10 or more underwent investigation on bike riding with or without support wheels. The group's features were: 46 F + 36 M; average age 12.83 + 2.71 years; chromosomal anomalies: pure trisomy 21 = 75; translocations = 5; mosaicisms = 2. Therapy lasted average 7.07 years + 2.74, and range 2-12.
The results at last checkup showed that 33 Ss (40%) do not ride a bike, 21 (26%) still use support wheels, and 28 (34%) are free biking. When compared with the sample of non drug treated Down Ss (Cocchi R., Favuto M.: Ital. J. Intellect. Impair. 1994, 7: 159-162) this sample significantly differs (<.05), because more Ss ride a bike, either with support wheels or without them.
As for age on which drug treated Downs started biking, it is to be noted that nobody of them could learn it after 15 years of life. Biking remains a difficult task for drug treated Down people too and learning it does not completely match even their better psycho-motor development.

The administration of the Coloured Progressive Matrices to 15 children with Down's syndrome: A preliminary analysis

Studied the possible uses of the Coloured Progressive Matrices (CPM) with Ss with Down's syndrome. Human Ss: 15 male and female Italian preschool and school-age children and adolescents (aged 5 yrs 4 mo to 14 yrs 7 mo) (Down's syndrome) (mental age of 39-204 mo, IQ of 47-82). The CPM was administered as part of a test battery that included the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale and a standardized group of tests on language development (E. Ferrari et al, 1981). CPM scores were compared with those obtained with normal Ss, and the correlation of CPM scores with Ss' IQ, chronological age, and mental age was assessed.

A brief report on the long-term results of the European Community's Horizon project

Discusses the long-term outcome of the European Community's Horizon project, aimed at the workplace and social integration of 9 18-25 yr olds with mental retardation, mainly Down's syndrome. Five Ss (3 of them with Down's syndrome), aged 20-21 yrs, were assessed several months after the training period ended.

Food habits in drug treated Downs of 10 years or more

The records of 93 home reared Italian Downs out of a not selected consecutive series of 526 (48 F + 45 M; age; range: 10-22 at last checkups; average: 13.71 ± 3.79 years; chromosomal anomalies: unknown = 1.1%, pure trisomy 21 = 89.2%, mosaicisms = 2.2%, translocations = 7.5%) were reexamined for food habits after at least 2 years of drug therapies (average: 8.98 ± 2.95 years). This sample got 34 different drugs, with average 4.22 drugs to each subject.
Liking for sweets, meat or cube broth, milk and derivatives, bread and pasta, meat, fish, cooked vegetables, raw vegetables and fruit were collected and scored according to 3-7 points scales. The results had their own examination and then a comparison with those coming from analogous research in non-drug treated Down (Cocchi, 1994). The results show a fall of the refusal for every investigated food (p < .024).
These Downs have a normal or preferred choice for sweets, meat or cube broth, milk and derivatives, bread and pasta, and fruit, but the same for meat, and a decreased liking for fish, cooked and raw vegetables (p < .0009). Since prescribed drugs mainly act against stress, it is suggested that these results come from a decreased hyponeophagia, a well-known symptom in stressed animals too.

Jenny's story: A case report of a Down's syndrome baby who had vitamin therapy

Although vitamin therapy as a means to treat Down's syndrome (DS) has had mixed results and has been paid little attention from the medical community, a US news program about a mother who used vitamin/amino acid therapy and piracetam to help her DS child has brought the option into light again. This paper looks at a girl with DS whose development was normal (with cognitive factors slightly above normal), until age 1. At 18 mo, her development slowed down. One simian crease, then a 2nd, appeared although she had none at birth. Now at 24 mo, her development again accelerated after 2 mo of vitamin/amino acid therapy. Thus, the author believes that DS can be successfully treated by biological means.

Depression in Down children: Clinical and therapeutical report on 45 cases

In a previous study (R. Cocchi, 1994), 17 males and 28 females (average age of 15 and 12 yrs, respectively) with Down's syndrome (DS) were surveyed for epidemiology. This followup study examined the results from a therapeutical viewpoint. Depression, low self-esteem, irritability, reduced play and social interest and language use had been observed in patients undergoing therapy using drugs with antidepressant action. In this sample, statistical analysis showed female prevalence among DS Ss, with the age of onset of depression in females showing significant anticipation. 38 Ss first used viloxazine, 3 had amitriptyline, and 4 respectively had fluoxetine, amitriptyline + perphenazine, clomipramine, and imipramine. Six cases took other substitute antidepressant drugs. After 30-60 days, a 71.69% decrease in depressive symptoms was observed.