Alzheimer’s and Down Syndrome

My friend’s son is a person with Down syndrome; he is in his late 30’s, manages the cart team at a grocery store, and lives in a group home. He is happy, self-sufficient, and resilient.  I think about him every time someone brings up his condition and I hope that others see the potential that people with his disorder can bring to both society and themselves.

I came across a statistic the other day – that more than 75% of those with Down syndrome aged 65 and older have Alzheimer’s.  That’s nearly six times the percentage of people in this age group who do not have Down syndrome. They are also more likely to develop early onset Alzheimer’s since they live, on average, 55-60 years.

Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s for people with Down syndrome can be challenging – people may exhibit noticeable behavior changes rather than forgetfulness or memory loss. Alzheimer’s research may have different implications for people with Down syndrome because of the genetic differences of people with and without it. Even medications are processed differently in the body.

It’s estimated that over 400,000 people in the U.S. have Down syndrome – approximately 1 in every 1,000 babies receive a diagnosis. Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition in which people are born with an extra copy of chromosome number 21. That one extra copy causes developmental delays and health issues, such as heart, bone, and muscle problems.

Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s aren’t going away, but we look forward to future research to find some relief in these life-changing conditions.  

Information retrieved from http://www.alz.org/dementia/downloads/topicsheet_downsyndrome.pdf; Accessed September 2014.

Image from: http://www.alz.org/dementia/down-syndrome-alzheimers-symptoms.asp