Executive function in down syndrome children in Bogotá, Colombia

Abstract

The study aim was to characterize executive function in 114 children with Down syndrome from a reference institution in Bogotá, Colombia. Children were screened with the Battelle Developmental Inventory to establish their developmental age. Eighty children with an equivalent mental age of 2-5.11 years were allocated to groups of 20 according to their mental age. Parents and teachers then completed the Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version. We found a high variability and a low correlation between parent and teacher ratings. In general, children showed a specific profile characterized by weakness in the domains of working memory, shifting, planning, and organization, and strengths in the emotional control domain. These findings indicate a characteristic pattern of executive function in children with Down syndrome. This profile could form the basis for the planning of clinical assessment programs.

Keywords: BRIEF-P; Battelle behavioral phenotype; Behavioral medicine; Behavioral neuroscience; Children; Cognition; Down syndrome; Emotion; Executive function; Pediatrics.

Figure 1

Correlation between chronological age and developmental age (BDI-2ST). BDI-2ST: Battelle Developmental Inventory, 2nd Edition, Screening Test.

Figure 2

BRIEF-P teacher and parent comparative results – T-scores ≥65. BRIEF-P: Behavior Rating Inventory of Executive Function-Preschool Version. I: Inhibit. S: Shift. EC: Emotional Control. WM: Working Memory. P/O: Plan/Organize. ISCI: Inhibitory Self-Control Index. FI: Flexibility Index. EMI: Emergent Metacognition Index. GEC: Global Executive Composite. ∗: p < .05 (McNemmar Test).