Are people with Down Syndrome at high risk of developing Alzheimers disease later in life?
It would depend on your view of Alzheimers. Although it is true that some of the Alzheimer-like changes in the physical brain occur in most, if not all, people with Down Syndrome as they age, the clinical appearance of dementia does not always occur. The latest thinking is that because of premature aging, Alzheimer’s dementia that does develop comes on at an earlier age but that the incidence of dementia may or may not be increased. It would be wrong to assume that an adult with Down Syndrome who appears to have developed dementia does in fact have Alzheimer’s dementia. There are many medical and psychiatric conditions that may mimic dementia. This is particularly true if the individual is less than 40 or 50 years of age. (National Downs Syndrome Assoc.) How should a parent and doctor care for a child with Downs?Neonatal period Directly from birth the first place a Downs Syndrome baby should be taken is to then exam room for diagnosis to determine more serious problems such as a heart
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