Latent profiles of autism symptoms in children and adolescents with Down syndrome.
Kids with Down syndrome fall into low, mixed, or high autism-symptom groups that line onto IQ and health needs.
01Research in Context
What this study did
The team looked at 125 kids and teens with Down syndrome.
Parents filled out the Social Communication Questionnaire.
The researchers used a math tool called latent profile analysis to find hidden groups of autism-like symptoms.
What they found
Three clear groups showed up.
One group had few autism signs.
Another had mixed or moderate signs.
The third had many signs.
Kids in the high-sign group had lower IQs and more health issues like heart problems.
How this fits with other research
McCarron et al. (2002) saw rising withdrawal in teens with Down syndrome.
Their finding lines up with the high-symptom group here, pointing to the same kids who may need closer watch for mood or dementia risk later.
Marchal et al. (2016) found social skills stay strong while other skills lag.
This helps explain why some kids land in the low-symptom group—they lean on their social strengths.
Micai et al. (2021) showed small but real inhibition deficits across Down syndrome.
The current study adds that the kids with the most autism signs also have the lowest IQ, tying weak self-control to the same subgroup.
Why it matters
When you screen a child with Down syndrome, expect three clear patterns.
Use the SCQ or a similar quick tool.
If scores are high, plan for extra medical checks and simpler language demands.
If scores are low, lean into social teaching because those skills are likely a strength.
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02At a glance
03Original abstract
BACKGROUND: Down syndrome (DS) is associated with elevated rates of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and autism symptomatology. To better characterise heterogeneity in ASD symptomatology in DS, profiles of caregiver-reported ASD symptoms were modelled for children and adolescents with DS. METHODS: Participants (n = 125) were recruited through several multi-site research studies on cognition and language in DS. Using the Social Responsiveness Scale-2 (SRS-2; Constantino and Gruber 2012), two latent profile analyses (LPA) were performed, one on the broad composite scores of social communication and interaction and restricted interests and repetitive behaviour, and a second on the four social dimensions of social communication, social motivation, social awareness, and social cognition. RESULTS: A three-profile model was the best fit for both analyses, with each analysis yielding a low ASD symptom profile, an elevated or mixed ASD symptom profile and a high ASD symptom profile. Associations were observed between profile probability scores and IQ, the number of co-occurring biomedical conditions reported, sex, and SRS-2 form. CONCLUSIONS: Characterising heterogeneity in ASD symptom profiles can inform more personalised supports in this population, and implications for potential therapeutic approaches for individuals with DS are discussed.
Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR, 2022 · doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(15)00376-4