Fidler, Deborah J PHD

INCLUDE Grants​

Autism in Young Children with Down Syndrome

Baumer, NicoleBishop, Somer LFidler, Deborah J

This project aims to identify developmental and biomedical markers of risk for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in young children with Down syndrome to advance early screening procedures. This project will focus on two areas of potential ASD risk: (1) developmental presentation during early childhood and (2) co-occurring biomedical conditions. Results will inform revised recommendations regarding early ASD screening in children with Down syndrome ages 18 to 45 months, which will be disseminated to medical providers, interventionists, and researchers aiming to advance treatment for ASD and other co- occurring conditions associated with Down syndrome.

Early risk for ADHD symptoms in young children with Down syndrome

Fidler, Deborah J

Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a major health concern for individuals with Down Syndrome (DS), but there is currently no scientific foundation for the early detection and treatment of this comorbidity. In this project, we will link ADHD symptom profiles in 4-5- year-old children with Down syndrome to infant cognitive presentations from a prior wave of data collection, and examine the influence of biomedical risk factors in this longitudinal relationship. Identifying the early cognitive and biomedical risk factors associated with ADHD in DS will directly address the NIH INCLUDE Project objective of “defining the presentation and course of co-occurring conditions in individuals with Down syndrome” to inform future treatment innovations and improve adaptation in this population.