By Kelly April Tyrrell Not so many years ago, people with Down syndrome rarely survived to middle age. Many died young due to heart problems associated with the congenital condition. Today, advances in treatment have …
Research
New funding for Down syndrome research and biobank
The Waisman Center is one of 25 recipients to receive funding through a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant that focuses on advancing research on Down syndrome. The grant is part of the NIH Investigation …
Emotion-detection applications built on outdated science, report warns
Facial Movements Are Unreliable Signals of Emotion, Researchers Say Software that purportedly reads emotions in faces is being deployed or tested for a variety of purposes, including surveillance, hiring, clinical diagnosis, and market research. But …
Athletes from Special Olympics add important perspectives to research
For many, a mention of Special Olympics invokes images of accomplished athletes, a community of inclusion and support, and the joy of athletic competition. But what many may not know is that Special Olympics is …
‘Anything can kill her’: Area family credits newborn screening with saving baby’s life
Maddie’s parents know that, although they wish to take her home, the hospital is still the safest place for her. Born in January, Maddie was diagnosed with severe combined immunodeficiency, or SCID, a rare condition that makes her highly susceptible to infection.
Connecting research and clinics to help those with autism
One of the goals of the study is to discover how genetic variations in young people with ASD are related to brain changes that lead to clinical symptoms of the disorder, such as impaired social interaction and repetitive behaviors.
“If you think about it, in between genes and clinical symptoms [of ASD] are changes in brain development,” says Lainhart. “Genes first impact brain development, and as a result of changes in how the brain develops, there are clinical manifestations of what we recognize as ASD.”
Ritalin drives greater connection between brain areas key to memory, attention
We know enough about methylphenidate – more commonly known as Ritalin – to prescribe it to mediate attention challenges. However, UW researchers aided by Waisman scientists are taking the first steps toward a deeper understanding …
Black youths less protected from antisocial behaviors than white peers
Black youths are overrepresented in the criminal justice system. Yet, says University of Wisconsin–Madison Psychology Professor James Li, they are underrepresented by research studies examining the behaviors that can lead them there, and the potential interventions to help prevent it. Most studies have focused on predominantly white adolescents.
Annual Poster Fair Showcases Research, Collaboration
The Waisman Center hosted their annual poster fair on Thursday, Dec. 6. The well-attended event featured nearly fifty posters highlighting the interdisciplinary research of students, graduates and investigators working at the Waisman Center. This event …
Studying Alzheimer’s disease in individuals with Down syndrome
About once every year and a half, Erin Harvey takes time off of her job as a teacher’s aide and along with her mom, Nancy, makes a two and a half hour drive from her …