Connor, Nadine PHD

Down syndrome (DS) is associated with difficulties in speech, breathing, and swallowing, but the reasons for these difficulties remain unknown. Mouse models can be used to study the potential mechanisms for impairment of these critical activities. The proposed research will study how aging impacts swallowing function in adult mouse models of DS and will generate new mouse models to reveal the molecular underpinnings of swallowing dysfunction associated with DS, thereby expanding knowledge of this important clinical manifestation.