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Alterations in aperiodic and periodic EEG activity in young children with Down syndrome
McKena Geiger1, Sophie R Hurewitz1, Katherine Pawlowski1
1Division of Developmental Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
Insights
Electroencephalography (EEG) in young children with Down syndrome (DS) reveals distinct brain activity patterns. These findings offer insights into the neurobiology of intellectual disability in DS, independent of cognitive delays.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Developmental Biology
- Genetics
Background:
- Down syndrome (DS) is the leading genetic cause of intellectual disability.
- Neurobiological underpinnings of cognitive impairments in DS remain poorly understood.
- Limited electroencephalographic (EEG) research exists for young children with DS.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate resting-state EEG features in toddlers and preschoolers with DS.
- To compare EEG characteristics between children with DS and matched control groups.
- To explore neurobiological differences associated with DS in early development.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of resting-state EEG data from 29 toddlers/preschoolers with DS (13-48 months).
- Comparison of aperiodic and periodic EEG features with age-matched (n=29) and developmental-matched (n=58) controls.
- Assessment of EEG spectral properties, including slope, theta power, and alpha peak amplitude.
Main Results:
- Children with DS showed a significantly reduced aperiodic slope and increased theta power.
- A decrease in alpha peak amplitude was observed in the DS group.
- A majority of DS participants exhibited a prominent theta peak, absent in age-matched controls, suggesting intrinsic neurophysiological differences.
Conclusions:
- Distinct EEG signatures, including altered theta and alpha activity, are present in young children with Down syndrome.
- These neurophysiological differences appear independent of general cognitive development delays.
- Findings contribute to understanding the neurobiology of intellectual disability in DS during early development.
Abstract:
Down syndrome (DS) is the most common cause of intellectual disability, yet little is known about the neurobiological pathways leading to cognitive impairments. Electroencephalographic (EEG) measures are commonly used to study neurodevelopmental disorders, but few studies have focused on young children with DS. Here we assess resting state EEG data collected from toddlers/preschoolers with DS (n = 29, age 13-48 months old) and compare their aperiodic and periodic EEG features with both age-matched (n = 29) and developmental-matched (n = 58) comparison groups. DS participants exhibited significantly reduced aperiodic slope, increased periodic theta power, and decreased alpha peak amplitude. A majority of DS participants displayed a prominent peak in the theta range, whereas a theta peak was not present in age-matched participants. Overall, similar findings were also observed when comparing DS and developmental-matched groups, suggesting that EEG differences are not explained by delayed cognitive ability.
