Object and action naming in adults and aged people with Down syndrome

Abstract

Down syndrome (DS) is a genetic condition associated with cognitive and linguistic impairments, presenting specific challenges in aging and an increased risk of cognitive decline. Objective: To evaluate naming alterations in adults and older individuals with DS using the Object and Action Naming Battery (OANB) and to identify the influence of age, educational attainment, and degree of intellectual disability (ID) on linguistic performance. Methods: This study included 26 individuals diagnosed with DS aged ≥20 years, assessed with the Cambridge Examination for Mental Disorders of Older Persons with Down Syndrome and Other People with Intellectual Disabilities (CAMDEX-DS) for cognitive evaluation and the OANB, a visual confrontation naming test including 162 objects and one hundred actions. Results: No significant differences were found between groups based on ID level in object and action naming. Literate individuals performed better than non-literates in object naming (p=0.033), while verb naming was not influenced by educational level. Age did not correlate with naming performance, suggesting that typical aging is not an isolated determinant of naming impairment. Conclusion: Our results indicate that contextual factors, such as educational level, have a greater impact on linguistic performance than intrinsic factors, such as ID degree or age. The OANB proved to be an effective tool for identifying performance patterns and supporting interventions for DS persons.