People with Down syndrome might experience health problems as they age that are different from those experienced by older persons in the general population. The presence of extra genetic material found among people with Down syndrome might lead to abnormalities in the immune system and a higher susceptibility to certain disorders, such as leukemia, seizures, cataracts, respiratory illness, and heart conditions.
People with Down syndrome also experience premature aging. That is, they show physical changes related to aging about 20 to 30 years ahead of people of the same age in the general population. As a result, Alzheimer’s disease is far more common in people with Down syndrome than in the general population. Adults with Down syndrome often are in their mid to late 40s or early 50s when symptoms might first appear, while symptoms first appear in the general population in people in their late 60s.
The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease might be expressed differently among adults with Down syndrome. For example, in the early stages of the disease, memory loss is not always noted. In addition, not all symptoms ordinarily associated with Alzheimer’s disease will occur. Generally, changes in activities of daily living skills are noted, and the person with Down syndrome might begin to have seizures when he or she never had them in the past. Changes in mental processes—such as thinking, reasoning, and judgment—also might be present, but they often are not readily noticeable because of limitation of the individual’s functioning in general.
How common is Alzheimer’s disease in people with Down syndrome?
Estimates suggest that 25 percent or more of individuals with Down syndrome over age 35 show the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer’s-type dementia. The percentage increases with age. The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease in people with Down syndrome is estimated to be three to five times greater than that of the general population. Virtually all Down syndrome patients have the microscopic changes of Alzheimer's disease in the brain by the age of 50 years.
Why do people with Down syndrome get Alzheimer’s disease?
Current research shows that the extra "gene dosage" caused by the abnormal third chromosome of Down syndrome might be a factor in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. Interest also is being focused on the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease in individuals with Down syndrome, which might be related to the early aging of the Down syndrome brain.
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This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. This document was last reviewed on: 3/23/2007
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