For many families, the threat of Down Syndrome Regression Disorder (DSRD) feels harrowing and constant. Gratefully, two scientists are leading the charge to understand and treat this heartbreaking condition, and thanks to one relentless mom/advocate, they’re working together.

Crnic Institute Executive Director Dr. Joaquin Espinosa and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Director of Neuroimmunology had no idea they had been developing complementary research on DSRD until mom Linda Roan of Boulder, CO connected the dots for them. The two scientists joined forces to create the first-ever randomized clinical control trial to treat DSRD and secure its funding through NIH’s INCLUDE initiative.

“You hear the phrase ‘it takes a village’ a lot,” says Linda, “Global has been the leader in the village that has put recognition, funding, and advocacy for Down Syndrome Regression Disorder on the map.  Global’s lobbying and funding for DS research has made all the difference.  Miah is doing well largely due to the Crnic Institute, and we wouldn’t have Crnic without the vision of Michelle Sie Witten and Global.  I can’t thank them enough.”

“So many people helped me get better,” Miah shares, “My mom says that Global, who puts on the dances I love, is the same group that has made a big difference in helping my brain.  I really want to thank them.”

GLOBAL is so proud to support this brilliant work that is helping so many of our loved ones finally “wake up” again after descending into regression. We are just as proud to fight for the continued funding of INCLUDE, which makes life-saving research and clinical trials possible.

Read the full Washington Post article.

Learn more about this groundbreaking clinical trial.

   When the Down Syndrome Association of Southern New Jersey (DSASNJ) was formed in 2003, the small group of founding parents were focused on supporting their young children with Down syndrome. As those children have grown and blossomed over 20 years, DSASNJ has grown to service individuals and families from the prenatal stage to adulthood. The organization proudly serves over 120 families across the Southern New Jersey region.

Earlier this month, GLOBAL Vice President – Strategic Alliances, David Tolleson, met with Terri Bank and Dria Law, Co-Executive Directors of the DSASNJ, to discuss their work to build community and why they strongly support GLOBAL’s mission and resources, including the Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome.

Under Erin Suelmann’s leadership, the Down Syndrome Association of Greater St. Louis (DSAGSL) has become one of the largest local Down syndrome organizations in the United States. In 2023 the organization raised over $1 million in support of over 2,000 families and expanded their impactful programs and services. Erin and her team have maintained an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau and met all 20 BBB Charity Accountability Standards. A strong believer in financial transparency, DSAGSL invites you to view their latest Annual Report and see exactly how their sponsorship of the GLOBAL Medical Care Guidelines for Adults with Down Syndrome fits into their tight yet highly effective budget. 

Recently, GLOBAL’s Vice President of Strategic Alliances, David Tolleson, caught up with Erin for an exclusive interview about the importance of the GLOBAL Adult Guideline, how having a brother with Down syndrome shaped her life, and her advice and hopes for healthcare support for all individuals with Down syndrome.

DAVID: DSAGSL is very strict about how you use your money. How does giving to the GLOBAL Adult Guideline fit into your criteria?

ERIN: Our mission is to serve, support and celebrate the lives of individuals with Down syndrome and their families through every stage of life. We believe that healthcare is essential in ensuring that people with Down syndrome can live long lives and fulfill their potential. We don’t have capacity to do what GLOBAL is doing in terms of creating the healthcare guidelines—I wouldn’t even know where to begin! We really believe in doing what we do well and partnering with and supporting agencies that are doing what they do well. GLOBAL has definitely shown that it is really good at advocating for healthcare for people with Down syndrome, which directly impacts the people we serve, so by supporting GLOBAL we’re improving healthcare for them. The GLOBAL Adult Guidelines don’t just support people in Colorado or Denver, they support people across the globe.

DAVID: You mentioned your brother. How does being a sibling impact your work?

ERIN: Oh gosh, I am who I am because of my brother. From a really early age I was cheering for the underdog and I was recognizing injustices, inequalities, and inequities. I was taking notes of how people with disabilities were being treated. I also developed a lot of patience because I have a brother with a disability. I have a lot of core memories of experiences that made me who I am. So, I take that to work with me every day and I feel really honored that I get to work in a field where I get to try to make a better world for people with Down syndrome. Whether it’s advocacy, creating programs where they are learning skills, or raising awareness about Down syndrome, everything that I do day-to-day has been impacted living with him and the great lessons he’s taught me. I’m blessed to be able to make a difference.

DAVID: How is the GLOBAL Adult Guideline making a difference in St. Louis?

ERIN: We use the Guidelines in our “Ages and Stages” packet. A few years ago, we realized families call us when they need something right away, so we thought a great way to help them would be to send them information before they need it—whether it be potty training, behavior in school, puberty, and so on—so we send out these packets at key milestones in life. The goal is that the family has the information they need before a crisis moment. We send out the GLOBAL Adult Guideline in our “16 Turning 17” packet, so all the families with a child turning 17 get that information. It helps them prepare and be better advocates for their loved ones. It helps people with Down syndrome be better advocates for themselves in the healthcare setting.

We’ve done some webinars with GLOBAL and we share GLOBAL Webinars. The GLOBAL Webinars attract the leading medical experts and are real tools that we give to people to improve healthcare for their child with Down syndrome or for themselves. In addition, last year we sent packets to healthcare professionals—something we plan to continue—in an effort to empower them to better serve people with Down syndrome. We sent the GLOBAL Adult Guideline to medical professionals along with a magnet talking about how they can get more information from our website. So, the guidelines are really directly impacting people in St. Louis.

DAVID: How does GLOBAL’s advocacy, research, and medical care work make a difference to families in your community?

ERIN: We can do what we can on a local level. We have access to local, county, and state leaders to improve the lives of people with Down syndrome, but I don’t have the capacity as one person to go to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to advocate for improved healthcare or improved funding of research. Nor is that the best use of my time—my time is about serving people in St. Louis. It’s important that organizations like GLOBAL exist to do that work. It’s good that Michelle, you and the GLOBAL team are at the NIH advocating, because you have the expertise and the access to professionals and the experts, and that is GLOBAL’s mission. That leaves me able to focus on the people in my region and rest assured that that federal advocacy work is taking place through an organization that is really equipped to do that work well. I would not be able to do it, so I’m really grateful to GLOBAL that you’ve made that your mission and that you’re doing it really well, taking it very seriously, and having the experts behind you.

DAVID: Do you have any advice for adults navigating the healthcare system?

ERIN: I think my advice would be that you have to come equipped with the knowledge and, in many cases, you have to educate your doctor, which is not the way that it should be. Hopefully, organizations like DSAGSL and GLOBAL can continue to help educate healthcare professionals, but for right now—especially if you live in rural communities or communities that don’t have a Down syndrome center or research university, you really do have to take it upon yourself. You have to arm yourself with the knowledge, best practices and things like the GLOBAL Adult Guideline, because your physician can’t always know everything. It’s also about finding a doctor who will listen to you. If you feel like your doctor is not taking you seriously and they’re not willing to listen to you and/or go the extra mile to learn outside of that 15-minute visit, then you have the wrong doctor and you need to find a better one. It should be a partnership. Even if they don’t know everything, they should be willing to learn, take you seriously and read the materials you bring them.

I also think that finding community through your Down syndrome association, connecting with other individuals with Down syndrome and their families, so you can share resources and recommendations on doctors, would be my advice. That’s also true for any kind of specialty care. We really have to advocate for ourselves. 

DAVID: What are your hopes for the future in healthcare? 

ERIN: I think if I had to envision a perfect world as far as healthcare and Down syndrome are concerned, my goal would be that every physician would know about Down syndrome and would have gotten more education about it in medical school. We hear from doctors that they get 15 minutes to an hour during their entire medical training about Down syndrome, which needs to change because there are going to be more and more people living with Down syndrome. It’s not an uncommon condition, so why shouldn’t doctors know about it and have that be a part of their regular curriculum in medical school? A family shouldn’t have to go into a doctor’s visit and be an interface with a physician who has never learned about Down syndrome or even seen anybody with Down syndrome. That’s why in St. Louis I say our goal should be that everybody knows somebody with Down syndrome.

Every doctor should have the opportunity to meet someone with Down syndrome because then that diagnosis delivery will be better. It won’t be so heart-wrenching for families when they receive the diagnosis. Families won’t be discouraged, because they won’t have to go into a medical visit where the doctor doesn’t want to listen. Normalizing Down syndrome in the medical community means there can be more equitable care. We have a lot of work to do at the intersection of minorities and disabilities. The medical community needs to do better in treating people in traditionally underserved groups and in rural communities and that’s just magnified by someone having a disability. So, there’s a lot of work to be done.

DAVID: We’re very grateful for your time and for your support of GLOBAL’s work. Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers?

ERIN: It’s really exciting that we’re going to be celebrating our 50^th anniversary in 2026!

DAVID: That’s wonderful!

ERIN: Yes, we have some really exciting things planned! Our success comes from our partnership and collaboration with other Down syndrome associations and national groups as well. The more we can support each other, the more we can lean on each other for the expertise that one another bring to the table or rely on someone who does something really well, like GLOBAL and the Adult Guideline, we’re all going to more successful as a result.

I really appreciate the national groups like GLOBAL and DSAIA that allow us to share, communicate and collaborate. I’ve learned so much from other organizations like yours and so many others across the country. I’m excited that GLOBAL is doing this piece on the local affiliates because there are a lot of really good associations across the country doing exciting work and making the world a better place!  

Takeaways from a GLOBAL Webinar

ROBERT ADERHOLT (R-AL)

The two wildly accomplished young men bond over a shared motto: “I don’t do nervous. I do excited and I do prepared.”

From Down Syndrome World Issue 3, 2023

Last year’s Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show brought together two celebrities— alum Connor Long and newcomer Josh Peck. Paired for a red-carpet photo shoot, the two bonded instantly and the chemistry was off the charts— the photos speak for themselves! Almost a year later, Josh and Connor remember their time together as unusually organic and an absolute blast.

“I think we could have stood there for another hour,” Josh recalls with a smile in his voice. “We asked for a couple more backdrops, but they didn’t have ‘em.”

Connor was happy to share that the feeling was mutual.

“Josh was amazingly nice and incredibly fun to be around,” says Connor, “he would be great to work with! Hint, hint.”

It’s easy to see why the two hit it off— they’re both incredibly good-natured, not to mention well-rounded, dedicated professionals, who are successful in their work. Connor is a stage, screen and voice actor, Emmy award-winning journalist, athlete, speaker and self-advocate, and Josh is a beloved actor, comedian, author, and social media influencer. While they both come from very loving environments, their upbringings were remarkably different.

Connor grew up in Maryland with his parents and sister Karlyn before moving to Colorado when he was young. For as long as Connor can remember, he enjoyed opportunities to thrive in school and in sports and employed his stellar work ethic to make the most of them. When adversity did rear its head, Connor’s parents were there to advocate on his behalf.

Josh was raised as an only child in New York City by a devoted single mother who has always unrelentingly insisted that he has “the sparkle” for show business. By age 10, Josh had an agent and was performing matinee stand-up sets at iconic New York comedy clubs like Caroline’s. He spent his teen years in Los Angeles making the country laugh on Nickelodeon’s The Amanda Show and Drake & Josh.

What Connor and Josh do share, in addition to rich resumes and palpable charisma, is a deep resonance with Connor’s personal motto: “I don’t do nervous. I do excited and I do prepared.”

RISING TO THE OCCASION

Connor credits that mindset as a crucial aid to his many forms of success, from performing and public speaking to competitive swimming and learning taekwondo. Lately, he’s enjoyed flexing his skills and has started to do voice work for film and public service announcements. He voiced the audible.com version of his essay in the Channel Kindness book with iconic musical artist Lady Gaga and voiced an English dub of Blood & Gold, a foreign feature film that was a global number one on Netflix. Each time, he was excited, prepared, and, ultimately, a hit. The well-rounded performer also just finished a full Shakespeare production of A Midsummer’s Night Dream with the renowned Phamaly Theater Company— an exciting project for such a big Shakespeare fan as Connor, who even visited London’s Globe Theater last year.

Similarly, when Josh was cast as physicist Kenneth Bainbridge in Christopher Nolan’s 2023 film, Oppenheimer, he was ecstatic to be working alongside some of the industry’s best. To him, hitting a home run meant blending in with the likes of Cillian Murphy, Florence Pugh, Robert Downy Jr., Emily Blunt, and Matt Damon – and he knew what would be the key to success.

“It was an opportunity to get so prepared,” he says, “and do so much research.”

It’s a tactic Josh embraced over his years in show business, though not without a healthy amount of stumbles—learning experiences—along the way. Acting and comedy was his dream, but it wasn’t always comfortable or easy. Especially not at first.

ACCEPTING THE LEARNING CURVES

 

“It was terrifying,” Josh admits, “it still is. I think the only difference between now and then is that now I know if I bomb or if the joke doesn’t go over well, somehow, someway, I will survive. Because I’ve walked through that before, where I’ve completely face-planted and lived to fight another day.”

“I’ve come to realize what that fear is and how there are two types.” He continues, “When I’m prepared, it’s readiness and adrenaline— sort of a priming mechanism. And those were the times I didn’t fall on my face. That’s very different from the kind of fear and anxiety in those moments when I wasn’t prepared.”

Connor agrees that success seldom comes without plenty of learning curves and bumps in the road.

“It’s hard work developing the skills to be on stage or in front of the camera, and there is a lot of work that goes into finding and pursuing film, stage 

or speaking opportunities.” He counsels, “My advice is to be prepared and excited, not nervous. Keep a positive attitude!”

Josh also stresses the importance of maintaining a healthy love of the craft itself.

“The results— like booking a role— are so out of our control.” He explains, “But if you love the process of acting, the preparation, the execution, getting to tell a story— if it really turns you on and makes you excited, then I think you’re in great shape.”   

Connor knows exactly what Josh means— it’s his passion for storytelling that led him to join the Denver 7 News team as a contributing reporter alongside fellow self-advocate Hannah Atkinson. Their hard work and magic touch earned them each an Emmy, making them the first-ever people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities to earn the award. The Emmy trophy that resides on Connor’s mantle reminds him of the reports he and Hannah delivered, and that there are many more stories to tell.

ALL FOR HONESTY & VISIBILITY

Self-advocates who have been formally recognized for their work hold the door open for fellow performers with disabilities. Thanks to talents like Connor, Zack Gottsagen, Jamie Brewer, and Madison Tevlin, just to name a few, viewers are finally getting to experience the creative capabilities of people with Down syndrome. Josh, for one, deeply appreciates the diversity, depth of knowledge and insights actors with different abilities bring to projects.  

“I love watching honesty,” he says, “like when performers with disabilities bring their experience, which is so unique to them. When that comes out in a performance, it really draws you in. The more of that we see, the better.”

PAYING IT FORWARD

Often, we can trace the inception of our favorite artists, activists, and role models back to the support they received for their dreams early on. The multi-talented Connor Long is no exception.

“I’ve had so many teachers, therapists and advocates support my interests and encourage me to give my time and energy to important causes.”

And the number of organizations and causes that Connor supports is impressive. He’s spoken at the US Embassy in (pre-war) Moscow, New York University, the Arc Catalyst Awards, and many times throughout Colorado. Dedicated to making a difference for his community, he draws from his lived experiences and pays it forward. For example, Connor, like many people with Down syndrome, considers himself a late bloomer when it comes to his cycling skills. At 16 years old, he participated in a specialized learn-to-ride camp with ICanBike. He honed the skill one year before GLOBAL launched its Dare to Ride cycling initiative, which raises funds and awareness for the Sie Center for Down Syndrome at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Ten years later, Connor is a Dare to Ride Courage Classic team captain, clocking hundreds of miles in training before completing 30+ mile rides in the name of Down syndrome research and medical care. He received the GLOBAL Community Service Award for this important initiative.

“My dad/riding partner and I have helped raise more than $500,000 for various charities and I always look forward to playing a role as a volunteer.”

ADVOCACY WITH ATTITUDE

The Be Beautiful Be Yourself Fashion Show is perhaps a perfect avenue for anyone with a knack for showmanship, like Connor and Josh, to engage in high-impact advocacy for Down syndrome research and medical care. When Josh took the Be Beautiful Be Yourself stage for the first time alongside models Timmy Frazier and Sinai Alexander, no one could suggest he was remotely unexcited or unprepared! The three men lit up the stage in what became one of the most memorable runway walks the event had ever seen. Josh brought infectious energy that funneled the spotlight onto Tim and Sinai, serving as the perfect hype-man by engaging the crowd and acting as the models’ personal paparazzi. No surprise they received a standing ovation.

“When you’re working with teenagers, you never know how comfortable they’re going to be in front of a crowd,” Josh says, “to see how hard they worked, how down they were to just ham it up,

 and the way I was able to capture all these great videos as we were doing it— it was such a fun and memorable experience…I think we gave Paris Fashion Week a run for their money!”

A FUTURE AS BRIGHT AS THEIR SMILES

What’s up next? Josh is fresh off his promotion of the massive hit film, Oppenheimer, and is spending time giving back by speaking at Southern Illinois University and other educational institutions. He’s also circulating funny photos and posts about how he nearly was cast as Edward Cullen in the Twilight franchise.  

Connor has been busy as well. His voice lessons have paid off and he’s singing the national anthem at various Colorado sports events including Denver Nuggets games. He’s also wondering (hint, hint) when Josh will help him get his first big Hollywood part!

Connor and Josh prove every day that when you approach challenges as opportunities— when you’re excited and prepared— there’s little you can’t accomplish. And the benefits of this life philosophy are always clearly visible in their beautiful and authentic smiles.  

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(pictured L-R) Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Awardee Eric Latcheran, Awardee Melissa Silverman, Congressman Tom Cole

In a heartwarming celebration of talent, perseverance, and advocacy, the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL) recognized the remarkable accomplishments of two extraordinary individuals with Down syndrome at the 2023 AcceptAbility Gala in Washington, DC. Eric Latcheran and Melissa Silverman were honored with the inaugural Rosa DeLauro and Tom Cole GLOBAL Advancement Awards to support their continuing education.

At the AcceptAbility Gala, GLOBAL recognized the transformative leadership of Representatives Rosa DeLauro and Tom Cole by unveiling post-secondary awards in their names. This gesture highlights their unwavering dedication to advancing the rights and opportunities for individuals with Down syndrome. The Rosa DeLauro and Tom Cole GLOBAL Advancement Awards will continue to inspire and support future generations in their pursuit of furthering their education and personal growth.

Eric Latcheran: Inaugural Rosa DeLauro GLOBAL Advancement Award Recipient

Eric, a shining example of resilience and determination, was bestowed with the inaugural Rosa DeLauro GLOBAL Advancement Award. This accolade serves as a testament to his exceptional achievements and serves to motivate others in their pursuit of personal growth. Eric’s tenacity knows no bounds, and he has consistently defied expectations.

With his award, Eric has chosen to pursue therapeutic horseback riding, a venture that aligns with his passion for animals and holistic well-being. Equine therapy has been known to improve physical strength, balance, and emotional well-being in individuals with Down syndrome, making it an ideal choice for Eric to further enhance his personal development.

Melissa Silverman: Inaugural Tom Cole GLOBAL Advancement Award Recipient

Melissa, a beacon of inspiration and fortitude, has been honored as the recipient of the inaugural Tom Cole GLOBAL Advancement Award. Her unwavering commitment to personal growth and the betterment of her community has earned her this prestigious recognition.

Melissa will utilize her award to maintain her 90-hour childcare certification. With a profound love for nurturing and supporting children, she understands the significance of quality care and aims to provide the best environment for their growth and development. Melissa’s dedication to her certification exemplifies her commitment to lifelong learning and her unyielding pursuit of excellence.

Eric and Melissa, two remarkable individuals with Down syndrome, have been rightfully honored by GLOBAL with the inaugural Rosa DeLauro and Tom Cole Advancement Awards for their exceptional achievements. These awards serve as a reminder of the limitless potential that lies within every person, regardless of their abilities. Eric’s choice of therapeutic horseback riding and Melissa’s commitment to maintaining her childcare certification reflect their dedication to personal growth and making a positive impact on their communities. Let us celebrate their accomplishments and be inspired by their unwavering determination to overcome barriers and continue to thrive.

See more highlights of the 2023 AcceptAbility Gala here!

Research at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus discovers a molecular mechanism contributing to the development of heart malformations in infants with Down syndrome.

From Down Syndrome World Issue 2, 2023

Newborns with Down syndrome, a genetic condition resulting from an additional copy of chromosome 21 (trisomy 21), face a significantly increased likelihood of being born with congenital heart defects. Roughly half of all babies with Down syndrome are estimated to have some form of heart malformation, making Down syndrome the leading cause of congenital heart abnormalities. Despite numerous research endeavors spanning many years, the specific mechanisms through which trisomy 21 disrupts the normal development of the heart in the embryonic stage have remained elusive.

In a recent breakthrough, researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus have uncovered a molecular mechanism that plays a role in the impaired development of the heart in individuals with Down syndrome. Led by Dr. Kunhua Song, a Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome collaborator and an associate professor of medicine, the team conducted a series of experiments using both human cells with and without trisomy 21 and a mouse model of Down syndrome. These investigations shed light on the specific molecular factors contributing to the defective formation of the heart in Down syndrome.

By utilizing pluripotent stem cells sourced from participants in the Human Trisome Project^TM, a comprehensive study spearheaded by the Linda Crnic Institute for Down syndrome at the University of Colorado, the research team took on the task of simulating the early stages of heart development, known as cardiogenesis, within a laboratory setting. During their investigation, they made a noteworthy observation: trisomy 21 hindered the process of cardiogenesis, and this malfunction appeared to be linked to an overactive cellular response to viral infections, specifically the interferon response. The team then proceeded to employ genetic and pharmacological techniques, successfully demonstrating that by blocking the interferon response, they could enhance cardiogenesis in the laboratory setting. This finding suggests a potential therapeutic avenue for improving heart development in individuals with Down syndrome.

“We were surprised to see strong activity of the interferon response during differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into heart muscle cells with trisomy 21. We now appreciate that an abnormally high interferon response could be detrimental to early heart development.”

— Dr. Kunhua Song, Crnic Institute Collaborator and Associate Professor

Dr. Song expressed his surprise at the robust activation of the interferon response during the differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into heart muscle cells with trisomy 21. The research team had not expected such heightened activity, and they now understand that an excessively elevated interferon response may have negative implications for the early stages of heart development. This discovery highlights the potential harmful effects of an abnormal interferon response on the proper formation of the heart in individuals with Down syndrome.

Continuing their inquiry, the researchers delved further into understanding how the hyperactive interferon response hindered cardiogenesis. Through their investigation, they made an additional breakthrough by uncovering that the interferon response actually impedes several crucial molecular processes necessary for proper heart development, including the Wnt signaling pathway. This finding sheds light on the specific mechanisms through which interferon hyperactivity disrupts the intricate series of molecular events essential for the formation of a healthy heart.

Per Dr. Congwu Li, primary author of the study, “Excessive interferon activity results in insufficient Wnt signaling, thereby compromising cardiac muscle cell performance. Unveiling this sequence of occurrences sheds light on possible approaches to mitigate abnormal heart development in Down syndrome by reducing interferon signaling and/or enhancing Wnt signaling.”

To assess the efficacy of this therapeutic approach in a Down syndrome mouse model, the researchers administered a JAK inhibitor—a medication that diminishes the interferon reaction—to pregnant female mice. They then observed the impact on heart development in the embryos possessing a genetic modification analogous to trisomy 21. Remarkably, treating the pregnant mice with the JAK inhibitor exhibited a significant enhancement in cardiogenesis among the mice.

“These findings hold great significance as they propose a prospective pharmacological approach for prenatal intervention in mitigating one of the severe consequences of trisomy 21. Infants born with Down syndrome and congenital heart anomalies encounter numerous hurdles, ranging from early postnatal cardiac surgeries to enduring physiological repercussions throughout their lives. Nevertheless, extensive further investigations are imperative to ascertain the safety and effectiveness of utilizing JAK inhibitors during pregnancy,” elucidates Dr. Joaquin Espinosa, co-author of the paper and executive director of the Linda Crnic Institute for Down syndrome.

Dr. Espinosa and his research team are presently at the forefront of clinical trials investigating the advantages of JAK inhibitors in older individuals, including children and adults, affected by Down syndrome.

These findings contribute to the expanding body of evidence highlighting the detrimental consequences of excessive interferon activity in Down syndrome, even in the initial phases of embryonic development. The outcomes further endorse the notion that several distinctive features of Down syndrome stem from persistent immune system dysregulation throughout life, and that reinstating immune equilibrium could yield therapeutic advantages.

 

“This collection of research serves as evidence of the remarkable scientific progress that can be achieved with adequate resource allocation and the enthusiastic participation of individuals with Down syndrome in research,”  

— Dr. Joaquin Espinosa, Executive Director of the Linda Crnic Institute for Down Syndrome

“We are currently witnessing a genuine renaissance in the realm of Down syndrome research, propelled by substantial support from the National Institutes of Health INCLUDE Project, which represents the culmination of extensive advocacy by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation. Thanks to these concerted efforts, we hold a confident belief that individuals with Down syndrome will enjoy extended and healthier lifespans.”