ERIC Number: EJ1487305
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2025-Sep
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1360-2322
EISSN: EISSN-1468-3148
Available Date: 2025-09-10
Proactive Cognitive Stimulation for Younger Adults with Down Syndrome. A Feasibility Randomised Control Trial
Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, v38 n5 e70120 2025
Background: Most adults with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology in their 30s, yet research into cognitive health programmes for this group remains limited. Method: A mixed-methods feasibility randomised control trial (RCT) evaluated an adapted, manualised group-based cognitive stimulation therapy (CST) programme for adults with Down syndrome (N = 12; M[subscript age] = 30) without dementia. Participants were randomly assigned to CST (n = 6) or control (services as usual; n = 6), with assessments at baseline, post-programme, and four-month follow-up by a blinded researcher. Results: The adapted CST was feasible, with high attendance, strong satisfaction, and good CST programme fidelity (all > 85%). CST participants showed significant gains in adaptive behaviour at post-programme, maintained at follow-up, and a trend towards improved episodic memory at post-programme. Conclusion: Manualised group-based CST can be successfully adapted for younger adults with Down syndrome and shows promise in supporting cognitive health for this population.
Descriptors: Adults, Down Syndrome, Alzheimers Disease, Cognitive Ability, Stimulation, Program Effectiveness, Memory, Cognitive Development
Wiley. Available from: John Wiley & Sons, Inc. 111 River Street, Hoboken, NJ 07030. Tel: 800-835-6770; e-mail: cs-journals@wiley.com; Web site: https://www-wiley-com.bibliotheek.ehb.be/en-us
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: 1Saint John of God Community Services Dublin South East, Dublin, Ireland; 2Saint John of God Research Foundation, Dublin, Ireland; 3University College Dublin School of Psychology, Dublin, Ireland; 4University College London Institute of Education, London, UK

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