how much are reported problems linked to very unstimulating low-expectations
education and other important influences in early and middle life?I've talked with
a man aged 40 who has Down syndrome who has a good memory - as an actor he
exercises it regularly.
Priscilla
[log in to unmask] wrote:
> FYI, Nicole Schupf from Columbia University (USA) has done research in this
> area. Here are citations/abstracts for 2 recent studies. AB
>
> ------------ Fwd by: [log in to unmask] -------------
>
> Zigman, W. 1. Schupf, N. 1. Haveman, M. 2. Silverman, W. 1. The
> epidemiology of Alzheimer disease in intellectual
> disability: results and recommendations from an international conference.
> Journal of Intellectual Disability Research.
> 41(1):76-80, February 1997.
> Among adults with intellectual disability, virtually everyone with
> Down's syndrome (DS) over the age of 40 years has
> neuropathology currently viewed to be consistent with a diagnosis of
> Alzheimer disease (AD), while other adults with
> intellectual disability without DS display an increased prevalence of
> Alzheimer-type neuropathology after they reach the
> age of 65. This paper presents the results of discussions by an
> epidemiology workgroup, formed at an international
> conference convened to discuss AD among people with intellectual
> disability, concerning: (1) the incidence and
> prevalence of clinical dementia in adults with intellectual
> disability; (2) risk factors for the development of AD in adults
> with intellectual disability; and (3) a minimum data set that would be
> of great utility for future research on AD in adults
> with intellectual disability. (C) 1997 Blackwell Science Ltd.
>
> Schupf, N. PhD. Kapell, D. MPH. Nightingale, B. MA. Rodriguez, A. MD.
> Tycko, B. MD. Mayeux, R. MD. Earlier
> onset of Alzheimer's disease in men with Down syndrome. Neurology.
> 50(4):991-995, April 1998.
> Background: Virtually all individuals with Down syndrome (DS) have
> neuropathologic changes characteristic of
> Alzheimer's disease (AD) beginning at 40 years of age. Few studies
> have examined factors that influence age at onset of
> AD in DS. We investigated whether sex differences in age at onset and
> risk of AD among adults with DS are similar to
> those observed in the general population and whether the effect of sex
> on risk of AD is modified by apolipoprotein
> E(APOE) genotype.
> Methods: A community-based sample of 111 adults with cytogenetically
> confirmed DS(34 to 71 years of age) was
> ascertained through the New York State Developmental Disabilities
> system. A semistructured interview with caregivers
> and review of medical records was used to ascertain the presence or
> absence of AD. APOE genotyping was carried out
> without knowledge of the subject's medical history or clinical diagnosis.
> Results and conclusions: Both male gender and the presence of an APOE
> [epsilon]4 allele were associated with an
> earlier onset of AD. Compared with women, men with DS were three times
> as likely to develop AD. Compared with
> those with theAPOE 3/3 genotype, adults with DS with the 3/4 or 4/4
> genotypes were four times as likely to develop
> AD. No individual with anAPOE [epsilon]2 allele developed AD. No
> evidence of interaction of sex and APOE genotype
> was found in risk of AD. The higher risk of AD in men may be related
> to differences in hormonal function between men
> and women with DS that are distinct from those in the general
> population. Copyright (C) 1998 American Academy of Neurology
>
> ------------ END ------------
>
> At 10:30 AM 3/22/99 +1000, you wrote:
> >My sister, who has Down's Syndrome is an ex-resident of Prudoe & Monkton
> >Hospital in Northumberland (UK) where she lived for more than 30 years.
> >Apparently while she was there she was a participant in a study looking at
> >the link between Downs' Syndome and dementia.
> >
> >As my sister's nearest relative, I have been contacted by a Dr. Marisa
> >Lana, Clinical Research Associate, Prudoe Hospital, Northumberland (Tel:
> >01661-514400) who has requested that I consider giving approval for my
> >sister's brain to be examined after her death to further scientific study
> >into the link between DS and Alzheimers Disease.
> >
> > I work in a policy position in the Disability field here in Victoria,
> >Australia and am aware of the link between DS and Altzheimer's.
> >
> >As Jacqueline's husband (who also had DS) died with dementia, I personally
> >have a positive attitude towards this research but, I wish to know what
> >other research is going on in this area and what has it found.
> >
> >I have not been able to find an email address or internet site for the
> >research team or Prudoe Hospital (or Northgate & Prudoe NHS Trust) and
> >cannot find a reference to the study which they are conducting. Could
> >anyone providing me with a source of independent advice about the worth of
> >this Project; and/or an email address for the researchers as I find doing
> >serious business by FAX or by phone to be rather ineffective.
> >
> >John Storey
> >---------------------------------------------------------------------------
> >-------------------------
> >Phone: +61 3 9616 7956 FAX: +61 3 9616 8555
> >Email: BH: [log in to unmask] AH: [log in to unmask]
> >Statewide IHAS Coordinator, Coordinated Care, Service Devt, Disability
> >Services Branch, Victorian Department of Human Services 18/555 Collins St
> >(PO Box 4057), MELBOURNE, Victoria 3162 , AUSTRALIA
> >---------------------------------------------------------------------------
--
Dr Priscilla Alderson
Reader, Social Science Research Unit
Institute of Education
University of London
18 Woburn Square, London WC1H 0NS
tel: 0171 612 6396
fax: 0171 612 6400
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