Down syndrome regression disorder: updates and therapeutic advances

• Published in: Current opinion in psychiatry Vol. 36; no. 2; p. 96
• Main Authors: Santoro, Jonathan D, Filipink, Robyn A, Baumer, Nicole T, Bulova, Peter D, Handen, Benjamin L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.03.2023
• Subjects: Benzodiazepines - therapeutic use; Down Syndrome - therapy; Electroconvulsive Therapy; Humans; Psychotropic Drugs
• ISSN: 1473-6578
• DOI: 10.1097/YCO.0000000000000845

Down syndrome regression disorder (DSRD) is a symptom cluster consisting of neuropsychiatric regression without cause. Although knowledge of this condition has accelerated over the last decade, prior studies have been limited by heterogenous nomenclature, diagnostic approaches and therapeutic interventions. This review highlights recent advances in the diagnosis and clinical approach to DSRD and reviews the most up-to-date literature on therapeutic interventions for this condition. Several multicentre studies have reported exciting findings on the presence of neurodiagnostic study abnormalities and responses to a variety of therapeutics, including psychotropics (including benzodiazepines), electroconvulsive therapy and immunotherapy. Differential response rates have been observed in the presence and absence of a variety of clinical and diagnostic factors. Individuals with DSRD are responsive to a variety of psychiatric pharmacotherapy and immunotherapy underscoring this phenotype may have multiple causes. Multidisciplinary care is helpful in the evaluation and management of individuals with this condition.