How infant arousal affects development in babies with Down syndrome
Official title: Infant arousal as a predictor of functional outcomes in Down syndrome (DS)
Funded at Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · NIH-10903842 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how babies with Down syndrome react to different things around them to see if those reactions can help us understand their growth in thinking, social skills, and senses, so we can create better support for them as they develop.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chapel Hill, United States) |
| Project start | August 9, 2023 |
| Project end | July 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $169,475 |
| NIH project number | 5K23HD112809-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10903842 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are infants diagnosed with Down syndrome.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have Down syndrome or are older than the targeted infant age range may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how different patterns of arousal in infants with Down syndrome (DS) can predict their cognitive, social, and sensory development. By observing infants' responses to various stimuli, the study aims to create a new biomarker that reflects their unique arousal profiles. This information could help in developing tailored early interventions to support their growth and learning. The research combines behavioral observations with neurobiological assessments to understand the connections between arousal and brain development.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to personalized interventions that enhance developmental outcomes for infants with Down syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: While the approach of linking arousal patterns to developmental outcomes is innovative, similar studies have shown promise in understanding neurodevelopmental disorders.
Where this research is happening
-
Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Grzadzinski, Rebecca Lynn — Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill
- Study coordinator: Grzadzinski, Rebecca Lynn
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.
-
Executive Function Enhancement for Young Children with Down Syndrome
A caregiver-guided program for kids with Down syndrome aged up to 11 to strengthen their thinking skills during early childhood.
-
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.
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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.
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.