Study of Sympathetic Nervous System Responses to Stress in Adults With Down Syndrome Compared to Controls

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are studying the function of the sympathetic nervous system SNS in individuals with Down syndrome DS, a common genetic cause of intellectual disability often linked to widespread organ dysfunction. This study focuses on how the SNS regulates key processes like heart rate and blood pressure during stress. People with DS usually have lower heart rate responses to exercise, indicating possible reduced SNS activity. The study aims to fill a knowledge gap by comparing SNS responses between individuals with DS and matched controls to better understand mechanisms behind reduced exercise capacity and other health issues in DS. Participants will undergo tests involving six different stressors that activate the SNS cold stress, fear using virtual reality, pain from a capsaicin patch, caffeine intake, a 12-hour fast, and maximal exercise on a treadmill. During these stressors, researchers will measure beat-to-beat heart rate and blood pressure, as well as plasma catecholamine levels hormones involved in the stress response. Blood samples will be analyzed with metabolomics and proteomics to explore hormonal SNS dysfunction in DS. The study includes two groups individuals with DS and age- and sex-matched individuals without DS. Participants will be involved in multiple visits where their heart rate, blood pressure, and hormone levels are continuously monitored during each stressor. Blood draws will occur before, during, and after these stress tests, and participants will also complete questionnaires assessing their pain and emotional responses. The research team will track these measurements closely to understand SNS activation patterns and their impact. The trial will run until December 2029, with participants aged 18 to 50 years and includes healthy volunteers.

Exploring Sympathetic Nervous System Function in Individuals With Down Syndrome