Factors associated with learning disabilities and autism led to requests for euthanasia and assisted suicide in the Netherlands, study finds

A Kingston University, London study found several people with learning disabilities and autism in the Netherlands chose to die legally through euthanasia and assisted suicide due to feeling unable to cope with the world, changes around them or because they struggled to form friendships.

People with disabilities who have alcohol problems need more treatment and recovery options

One in four Americans live with a disability, which is associated with stigma and disparities in health care. New research examined differences in alcohol use by disability status and types of disability, and found a need for a range of accommodations in alcohol treatment and recovery services – including technology-based options. These results and others will be shared at the 46th annual scientific meeting of the Research Society on Alcohol (RSA) in Bellevue, Washington.

New test to study language development in youth with Down syndrome

A team led by UC Davis Health researchers tested and validated elaborated language sampling (ELS) as a set of procedures for collecting, measuring and analyzing the spoken language of youth with Down syndrome in a naturalistic setting. They found that ELS is a reliable and feasible tool that can be used to detect meaningful changes in communication skills of individuals with Down syndrome.

Moderate to Heavy Drinking During Pregnancy Alters Genes in Newborns, Mothers

Mothers who drink moderate to high levels of alcohol during pregnancy may be changing their babies’ DNA, according to a Rutgers-led study.