Jean-Adolphe Rondal PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psycholinguistics and Neuropsychology of Language at the University of Liège, Belgium and Professor at the International School of the Pontifical Salesian University, Venice, Italy. Juan Perera PhD is Director of the Centro Príncipe de Asturias, University of the Balearic Islands, Mallorca, Spain. Donna Spiker PhD is General Manager of the Early Childhood Program, Center for Education and Human Services, SRI International, Menlo Park, CA, USA.

• Preface; Part I. Definition, History, Methodology, and Assessment: 1. Early intervention: definition, objectives, models and challenges Juan Perera; 2. The history of rehabilitative intervention for infants and young children with Down syndrome and their families: where have we been and where are we going? Donna Spiker; 3. Advances in clinical endpoints for neurocognitive rehabilitation in Down syndrome Jamie Edgin, Goffredina Spano and Lynne Nadel; Part II. Genetics, Brain and Animal Models: 4. New perspectives on molecular and genetic therapies in Down syndrome Jean-Maurice Delabar; 5. Brain plasticity and environmental enrichment in Ts65Dn mice, an animal model for Down syndrome Adam Golabek, Katarzyna Jarząbek, Sonia Palminiello, Marius Walus, Ausma Rabe, Giorgio Albertini and Elizabeth Kida; 6. Development of the brain and metabolism David Patterson; Part III. Pharmacological and Medical Management and Treatment: 7. Pharmacotherapy for children with Down syndrome George Capone; 8. Early medical caretaking and follow-up Alberto Rasore-Quartino; 9. Evaluation and management of cardiovascular diseases in Down syndrome Guy Dembour and Stephane Moniotte; Part IV. Early Development and Intervention: 10. Developmental models as frameworks for early intervention with children with Down syndrome Katie Cohene, Heidi Flores and Jacob Burack; 11. Aspects of motor development in Down syndrome Naznin Virji-Babul, Anne Jobling, Digby Elliot and Daniel Weeks; 12. Memory development and learning Stefano Vicari and Deny Menghini; 13. Prelinguistic and early development, stimulation and training in children with Down syndrome Jean-Adolphe Rondal; 14. Speech perception, stimulation and phonological development Michele Pettinato; 15. Goal-directedness as a target for early intervention in Down syndrome Deborah Fidler, Susan L. Hepburn and Diane Osaki; 16. The role of parents of children with Down syndrome and other disabilities in early intervention Gerald Mahoney and Frida Perales; Part V. Therapeutic Perspectives: 17. Perspectives of hybrid therapeutic strategies in intellectual disabilities and Down syndrome Jean-Adolphe Rondal and Juan Perera; Conclusions; Index.