Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease Can Affect Activities of Daily Living for Adults with Down Syndrome

Overview

Journal Alzheimers Dement (Amst)

Date 2024 Mar 13

PMID 38476636

Authors

Tracy A Listwan

Sharon J Krinsky-McHale

Cynthia M Kovacs

Joseph H Lee

Deborah I Pang

Nicole Schupf

Benjamin Tycko

Warren B Zigman

Wayne Silverman

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Introduction: Alzheimer's disease (AD) affecting adults with Down syndrome (DS-AD), like late-onset AD (LOAD) in the neurotypical population, has preclinical, prodromal, and more advanced stages. Only tasks placing high demands on cognition are expected to be affected during the prodromal stage, with activities of daily living (ADLs) typically being spared. However, cognitive demands of ADLs could be high for adults with DS and may be affected during prodromal DS-AD.

Methods: Cognitively stable cases that subsequently developed prodromal DS-AD were identified within a set of archived data from a previous longitudinal study. Measures of ADLs and multiple cognitive domains were examined over time.

Results: Clear declines in ADLs accompanied cognitive declines with prodromal DS-AD while stability in all measures was verified during preclinical DS-AD.

Discussion: Operationally defining prodromal DS-AD is essential to disease staging in this high-risk population and for informing treatment options and timing as new disease-modifying drugs become available.

Highlights: Cognitive and functional stability were demonstrated prior to the onset of prodromal DS-AD.ADL declines accompanied cognitive declines as adults with DS transitioned to prodromal AD.Declines in ADLs should be a defining feature of prodromal AD for adults with DS.Better characterization of prodromal DS-AD can improve AD diagnosis and disease staging.Improvements in DS-AD diagnosis and staging could also inform the timing of interventions.

Citing Articles

Validity of one-time assessments for identifying prodromal Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down syndrome.

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The association of dementia risk symptoms and functional activity in adults with Down syndrome.

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Prodromal Alzheimer's disease can affect activities of daily living for adults with Down syndrome.

Listwan T, Krinsky-McHale S, Kovacs C, Lee J, Pang D, Schupf N Alzheimers Dement (Amst). 2024; 16(1):e12562.

PMID: 38476636 PMC: 10927922. DOI: 10.1002/dad2.12562.

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