Executive Function Enhancement for Young Children with Down Syndrome
Official title: Executive Function Intervention for Young Children with Down Syndrome
Funded at Colorado State University · NIH-11609228 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A caregiver-guided program for kids with Down syndrome aged up to 11 to strengthen their thinking skills during early childhood.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Colorado State University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Fort Collins, United States) |
| Project start | July 10, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $204,996 |
| NIH project number | 3R33HD115161-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11609228 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Children with Down syndrome aged 0-11 years and their caregivers who participate in the program.
✕Less likely to help
Children with Down syndrome who do not engage with the caregiver-delivered activities or those whose developmental profile does not respond to this approach may see minimal benefit.
What this research studies
This project focuses on a 12-week program called EXPO that helps caregivers support their child’s executive function using activities tailored to Down syndrome. It will adapt over time to meet each child’s responsiveness, aiming to maximize benefits during a period of high brain plasticity. The study will collect feedback from families and measure changes in daily thinking skills and related behaviors to guide personalized adjustments. If successful, the approach could become a practical, family-centered way to boost early cognitive development in DS.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, families could gain a practical, adaptive way to improve their child’s executive functioning and daily life.
How similar studies have gone: Preliminary feasibility and acceptability were promising in a prior implementation, with early efficacy signals observed at the group level.
Where this research is happening
-
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fidler, Deborah J — Colorado State University
- Study coordinator: Fidler, Deborah J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Exploring how Down syndrome affects optic nerve health in kids
A study using a mouse model to understand why optic nerve problems are common in children with Down syndrome and how to prevent them.
-
Silencing an Extra Chromosome to Help Down Syndrome and Related Conditions
A patient-friendly plan to use a gene-based approach to quiet an extra chromosome in cells and a mouse model to reduce disease-related effects in Down syndrome and other chromosomal imbalance disorders.
-
Infant Down Syndrome Brain and Behavior Study
A study of infants with Down syndrome to collect brain imaging and developmental data, creating a large, shared resource to understand how autism and other factors relate to development.
-
DS-ARC: Smartphone-based cognitive check for people with Down syndrome at risk for Alzheimer’s
A smartphone-based cognitive test is being developed and tested for people with Down syndrome who may develop Alzheimer’s disease, to track changes quietly in daily life.
-
Immune and NGF factors in Alzheimer’s for adults with Down syndrome
This grant studies why people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s disease by looking at immune signals and nerve growth factor problems.
-
Executive Function Support for Young Children with Down Syndrome
A caregiver-led program helps young children with Down syndrome build executive function skills during a 12-week period.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.