Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome: an in vivo MRI study

BackgroundIndividuals with Down's syndrome (DS) are at high risk of developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, few studies have investigated brain anatomy in DS individuals with AD.MethodWe compared whole brain anatomy, as measured by volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), in DS individuals with and without AD. We also investigated whether volumetric differences could reliably classify DS individuals according to AD status. We used volumetric MRI and manual tracing to examine regional brain anatomy in 19 DS adults with AD and 39 DS adults without AD.ResultsDS individuals with AD had significantly smaller corrected volumes bilaterally of the hippocampus and caudate, and right amygdala and putamen, and a significantly larger corrected volume of left peripheral cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), compared to DS individuals without AD. The volume of the hippocampus and caudate nucleus correctly categorized 92% and 92% respectively of DS individuals without AD, and 75% and 80% respectively of DS individuals with AD.ConclusionsDS individuals with AD have significant medial temporal and striatal volume reductions, and these may provide markers of clinical AD.

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Faculty Opinions recommendation of Alzheimer's disease and Down's syndrome: an in vivo MRI study.

Faculty Opinions – Post-Publication Peer Review of the Biomedical Literature ◽

10.3410/f.722030685.793515499 ◽

2016 ◽

Author(s):

Annette Karmiloff-Smith

Keyword(s):

Alzheimer’S Disease ◽

Alzheimer's Disease ◽

Down's Syndrome ◽

Down’S Syndrome ◽

Mri Study

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Brain anatomy and ageing in non-demented adults with Down's syndrome: an in vivo MRI study

Psychological Medicine ◽

10.1017/s0033291709990985 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 40 (4) ◽

pp. 611-619 ◽

Cited By ~ 34

Author(s):

F. Beacher ◽

E. Daly ◽

A. Simmons ◽

V. Prasher ◽

R. Morris ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Down's Syndrome ◽

Down’S Syndrome ◽

Brain Regions ◽

Accelerated Ageing ◽

Brain Anatomy ◽

Parietal Lobes ◽

Age Related ◽

Brain Ageing ◽

Mri Study

BackgroundPeople with Down's syndrome (DS) are at high risk for developing dementia in middle age. The biological basis for this is unknown. It has been proposed that non-demented adults with DS may undergo accelerated brain ageing.MethodWe used volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and manual tracing to compare brain anatomy and ageing in 39 non-demented adults with DS and 42 healthy controls.ResultsIndividuals with DS had significant differences in brain anatomy. Furthermore, individuals with DS had a significantly greater age-related reduction in volume of frontal, temporal and parietal lobes, and a significantly greater age-related increase in volume of peripheral cerebrospinal fluid (CSF).ConclusionsNon-demented adults with DS have differences in brain anatomy and ‘accelerated’ ageing of some brain regions. This may increase their risk for age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease (AD).

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