Brief Report: Contrasting Profiles of Everyday Executive Functioning in Smith-Magenis Syndrome and Down Syndrome.

Wilde et al. (2017) asked caregivers of preschoolers to fill out the BRIEF-P. The form lists everyday executive-function skills like planning and self-control.

The team compared two groups: children with Smith-Magenis syndrome and children with Down syndrome. They wanted to see which group showed wider EF problems.

Caregivers ticked more problem items for the Smith-Magenis group. The Down group looked milder on every-day EF.

The wider EF gaps in Smith-Magenis line up with its higher risk for behavior disorders.

Austin et al. (2015) already showed the BRIEF-P works in Down syndrome kids. Wilde et al. (2017) built on that by using the same tool to contrast two syndromes.

Miezah et al. (2026) later ran the same kind of check in adults with Down syndrome. Together the three papers trace an EF picture from preschool to adulthood in Down syndrome.

Wilde et al. (2013) used the same two-syndrome design but looked at social attention. Pairing the 2013 and 2017 papers gives you both social and EF maps for the same kids.

If you assess a child with Smith-Magenis, expect broad EF weak spots and plan extra supports for working memory and shifting. For Down syndrome, expect fewer daily EF issues in preschool yet still screen each domain; later studies show problems can grow with age. Add the BRIEF-P to your intake packet for both groups and re-check at yearly updates.