Adaptive and Behavioral Profiles in Down Syndrome with Co-Occurring Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Case-Control Study

This study compared children and adolescents with both Down syndrome and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) to those with Down syndrome alone, matched on age, sex, and IQ level. The ASD group showed significantly lower adaptive skills and higher rates of stereotyped behaviors and restricted interests, suggesting these features may help distinguish co-occurring ASD in Down syndrome populations despite overlapping behavioral traits.