Why people with Down’s syndrome (trisomy 21) should have a higher incidence of developing Alzheimer’s disease in middle age is not known. Women with Down’s syndrome are more at risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease than men in the 40 to 65 age group.
Overall, research on people with Alzheimer’s disease and mental retardation, (learning disabilities, developmental disability) has received little attention from policy makers and service providers. In part this has been because life expectancy reduced the risk of dementia affecting this group of people. This is changing as survival into middle age and beyond is more common for people with Down’s syndrome and dementia becomes a more common problem.
Race, Downs syndrome and Alzheimer's
Race does not seem to affect the prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in people with Down’s syndrome as far as we are currently aware.
Diagnosis of Alzheimer's in prople with Downs syndrome
Diagnosis often relies on the concept of change; that is, caregivers and family reporting changes in someone's ability to perform certain tasks. Changes in language skills, behavior and life skills begin to deteriorate. Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease usually takes 1 to 2 years to confirm. Diagnosis and assessment of people with Down’s syndrome and other forms mental retardation usually involve many more practitioners and service providers because of the care and facilities they usually already receive.
Prognosis Downs syndrome and Alzheimer's disease
People with Down’s syndrome who develop Alzheimer’s disease live, on average, 9-10 years from first symptoms. From diagnosis to death is on average 8.2 years.
