Down syndrome, the most common chromosomal disorder in America, can be complicated by significant deterioration in movement, speech and functioning in some adolescents and young adults. Physicians previously attributed this regression to depression or early-onset Alzheimer’s, and it has not responded to treatments. Now, a researcher at the University of Missouri has found that Catatonia, a treatable disorder, may cause regression in patients with Down syndrome. Individuals with regressive Down syndrome who were treated for Catatonia showed improvement, the researcher found.
“Our findings are important for young people with Down syndrome, autism and probably other neurodevelopmental disorders,” said Judith Miles, professor emerita in the and researcher with the . “Until recently, Catatonia was felt to be just a complication of schizophrenia; however, it now is known that Catatonia is a common neuropsychiatric disorder that complicates many types of brain disorders. Our recognition that Catatonia occurs in young adults and adolescents with Down syndrome means these individuals who before were relegated to lives of incapacity may now receive treatments that restore them to their usual levels of activity.”
Those who care for individuals with regressive Down syndrome describe them as “zombie-like,” Miles said. Symptoms of regression can include difficulty moving and sleeping, inability to perform activities of daily living, no longer talking, and a lack of interest in previously enjoyed activities.
In her study, Miles followed the cases of four patients with Down syndrome who were diagnosed with Catatonia. Each patient improved when treated with a combination of benzodiazepine, a drug commonly used to treat anxiety, and electroconvulsive therapy.
Reviewed 2015-05-26