A preliminary examination of brain morphometry in youth with Down syndrome with and without parent-reported sleep difficulties. (April 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Nancy Raitano; Perez, Megan; Hamner, Taralee; Adeyemi, Elizabeth; Clasen, Liv S.
• Is Part Of: Research in developmental disabilities. Volume 99(2020)
• Publication Date: 2020-04
• Subjects: Sleep apnea -- Magnetic resonance imaging -- Trisomy 21 -- Cerebral cortex -- Frontal lobe; Developmental disabilities -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmentally disabled children -- Education -- Research -- United States -- Periodicals; Developmental Disabilities -- Periodicals; Disabled -- Periodicals; Mental Retardation -- rehabilitation -- Periodicals; Personnes atteintes de troubles du développement -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Enfants atteints de troubles du développement -- Éducation -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; Développement, Troubles du -- Recherche -- États-Unis -- Périodiques; 616.858800
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2020.103575
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0891-4222

Abstract

Highlights: Little is known about the brain in youth with Down syndrome and poor sleep (DS-S). The current study examined brain morphometry in youth with DS-S. The DS-S group had smaller total brain volume than youth with DS only. Specific reductions were noted in several frontal, parietal, and temporal gyri. More research is needed to further characterize the brain in youth with DS-S. Abstract: Background: Down syndrome is associated with poor sleep but little is known about its neural correlates. Aims: The current research compared brain morphometry in youth with Down syndrome with parent-reported sleep problems (DS-S) to peers with Down syndrome (DS) and typical development (TD) without parent-reported sleep problems matched on age (M = 15.15) and sex ratio (62 % female). Methods and procedures: Magnetic resonance imaging was completed on a 3 T scanner. Participants were stratified into groups based on parent-report: DS-S (n = 17), DS (n = 9), TD (n = 22). Brain morphometry, processed with the FreeSurfer Image Analysis Suite, was compared across groups. In addition, the co-occurrence of medical conditions in the DS groups was examined. Outcomes and results: Youth with DS-S had reduced total, frontal, parietal, and temporal brain volumes relative to DS and TD peers. They also had higher rates of congenital heart defects than the DS-only group; however, this comorbidity did not appear to account for morphometry differences. Conclusions and implications: Parent-reported sleep problems in DS appear to relate to global and localized volume reductions. These preliminary results have implications for understanding the neural correlates of poor sleep in DS; they also highlight the importance of examining relations between sleep and other medical comorbidities.