A Novel Framework to Measure Executive Function in Down Syndrome With Applications for Early Clinical Diagnosis of Dementia.

Smith et al. (2019) built a new computer game for adults with Down syndrome. The game measures three parts of executive function: working memory, shifting, and inhibition.

Each adult played the game twice, one week apart. The team also tested adults without Down syndrome to check if the game works the same way for both groups.

The game showed clear difficulty steps. When the rules got harder, scores dropped in both groups, just as expected.

Test-retest scores were strong. The game gives steady numbers over time, so it can track small future drops that might signal early dementia.

Hong et al. (2021) pooled 57 studies and found huge EF deficits in Down syndrome. The new task lines up with that big picture, but gives a single tool that can be repeated quickly in clinic.

Moya et al. (2022) showed that working memory and inhibition predict daily-living skills in kids. The adult task targets the same two parts, so clinicians can now track the same skills across the lifespan.

Costanzo et al. (2013) and Tassé et al. (2013) both showed shifting and verbal inhibition as weak spots in Down syndrome. The new game loads heavily on those exact domains, so it captures the syndrome-specific profile earlier research described.

You now have a quick, reliable EF probe for adults with Down syndrome. Use it at intake to set a baseline, then re-test every six months. Any drop can trigger a dementia work-up before families notice day-to-day changes. The task also gives you clear targets—working memory and inhibition—for skill-building programs that may slow decline.