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ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE IN DOWN'S SYNDROME FAMILIES.

The intriguing relation between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and trisomy of chromosome 21 has attracted considerable scientific interest. Adults with Down's syndrome have a high incidence of premature neuropathology indicative of AD, and studies have found an increased rate of Down's-syndrome births in families with AD. But whether relatives of people with Down's syndrome are at increased risk for AD has not been clear.

Using a questionnaire, researchers interviewed family members to estimate the incidence of dementia among parents of 96 adults with Down's syndrome and 80 adult controls with other forms of mental retardation. They found a nearly five- fold increase in dementia among mothers of adults with Down's syndrome who were under age 35 at the time of the proband birth. Mothers who were older at the time of the birth showed no such risk, nor did fathers.

Comment: Although this study is limited by its means of ascertaining dementia (family questionnaire only) and was not able to distinguish AD from other forms of dementia, it supports the notion of a common genetic link between AD and Down's syndrome. The authors suggest one possible interpretation of their findings: perhaps young women who have children with Down's syndrome are susceptible to a process of accelerated aging that can also lead to AD.

— B Jarman

Published in Journal Watch General Medicine August 16, 1994

Citation(s):

Schupf N et al. Increased risk of Alzheimer's disease in mothers of adults with Down's syndrome. Lancet 1994 Aug 6 344 353-356.

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