Learning Disability News and Research

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Researchers to explore movement signatures for detecting learning disability in children with autism

An Indiana University physicist and neuroscientist who studies how physical movement can be used to detect autism in children and adults has received support from the National Science Foundation.

11 Nov 2016

Study highlights role of BCL11A gene in intellectual disability syndrome

Scientists at the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute and Max Planck Institute for Psycholinguistics have found a gene responsible for an intellectual disability disorder and proven how it works.

21 Jul 2016

Ideagen to help mental health and community trust meet paperless NHS targets and reduce reliance on off-site storage suppliers

Software firm Ideagen is to work with South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust to reduce the volume of paper patient records in line with the NHS’s £4bn drive for paperless health services.

8 Jul 2016

New genetic test provides rapid diagnosis of mitochondrial disease

Newcastle researchers have developed a genetic test providing a rapid diagnosis of mitochondrial disorders to identify the first patients with inherited mutations in a new disease gene.

7 Jul 2016

SeeAbility calls for free eye tests for people with learning disabilities in England

In a report launched in parliament tomorrow (Tuesday 5th July) national disability charity SeeAbility will say NHS England’s national sight testing and funding system is letting down the one million people with learning disabilities in England.

4 Jul 2016

CUMC researchers identify new neurodevelopmental syndrome

A multicenter research team led by Columbia University Medical Center has discovered a new neurodevelopmental syndrome and the genetic mutations that cause it. The discovery is an important step toward creating targeted therapies for individuals with this syndrome, which causes severe developmental delays, abnormal muscle tone, seizures, and eye complications.

22 Apr 2016

Coronary heart disease, cancer less likely among people with learning disabilities

Coronary heart disease and cancer rates among people with learning disabilities are nearly a third lower than the general population, says new research.

13 Apr 2016

Sleep clinics can improve sleep routines in parents of children with challenging behaviour

Sleep clinics aimed at parents of children with challenging behaviour can improve the chances of a peaceful night, a team of specialists has concluded.

30 Sep 2015

Better support can improve shopping experience for individuals with intellectual disabilities

Better support can greatly improve the supermarket shopping experience for people with intellectual (learning) disabilities, a study by an independent self-advocacy group reveals.

30 Sep 2015

UK's first cross sector International Dementia Conference to take place in November 2015

Taking place 3 - 4 November 2015 at Vox Birmingham, the UK's first cross sector International Dementia Conference will bring together leading figures from across the world and from a variety of different industry backgrounds to learn and share ideas on the best solutions to tackle this global issue.

7 Aug 2015

Mothers of infants with Down's syndrome need tailored breastfeeding guidance

Despite compelling evidence about the benefits of breastfeeding little is known about the breastfeeding experiences of mothers of infants with Down's syndrome. In the UK, clinical commissioning groups and practitioners have a vital role in empowering and enabling these women to access help and support as soon as the child is born.

9 Jul 2015

Inflammation plays causal role in neurologic changes associated with Lyme disease

About 15% of patients with Lyme disease develop peripheral and central nervous system involvement, often accompanied by debilitating and painful symptoms. New research indicates that inflammation plays a causal role in the array of neurologic changes associated with Lyme disease, according to a study published in The American Journal of Pathology.

17 Apr 2015

People with learning disabilities may become victim or perpetrator of crime while online

People with learning (intellectual) disabilities have historically been marginalised from mainstream society, and have had limited choice and control over their lives. While movements to achieve greater equality have had success, the rapid advancement of modern technology risks creating a new form of digital exclusion.

13 Apr 2015

Non-invasive functional neuroimaging tools help characterize how brain activity disrupted in dyslexia

A new study in Biological Psychiatry maps the circuitry of dyslexia. Dyslexia, the most commonly diagnosed learning disability in the United States, is a neurological reading disability that occurs when the regions of the brain that process written language don't function normally.

28 Aug 2014

IDEAL Group Apps4Android releases "Document Knowledge Miner"

IDEAL Group Apps4Android today announced the release of "Document Knowledge Miner," an Android application that enables individuals with print disabilities to acquire knowledge from digital documents, even if the documents were not designed with accessibility in mind.

20 Aug 2014

UK scientists unlock untapped genetic information to better understand Intellectual Disability in children

Teams of leading UK scientists have joined forces to unlock an untapped source of genetic information in a bid to better understand and treat children with Intellectual Disability. Experts from Cambridge, Cardiff, and UCL (University College London) will be given unprecedented access to genetic information on intellectual disability from NHS Regional Genetics Centres across the UK as part of a first phase study funded by the Medical Research Council and Medical Research Foundation.

24 Jun 2014

New drug for treating Rett syndrome is on the horizon

A powerful new drug which could relieve the symptoms of devastating childhood disease Rett syndrome is on the horizon thanks to a funding injection of -180,000.

10 Apr 2014

People with learning disabilities have lower life expectancy, suffer physical disabilities, chronic conditions

People with learning (intellectual) disabilities have a lower life expectancy than the general population and are more likely to suffer physical disabilities and chronic conditions.

3 Mar 2014

NeuroRehabilitation showcases different approaches to restoring mental functioning

There is a growing need for Cognitive Rehabilitation Therapy (CRT) due to the huge influx of soldiers returning from war zones with brain injuries, athletes with sports-related head injuries, and the growing population with age-related cognitive decline.

4 Feb 2014

Study: People with learning disabilities largely invisible within hospitals

Hospital patients with learning disabilities face longer waits and mismanaged treatment due to a failure to understand them by nursing staff, says a new report.

20 Jan 2014