Functional connectivity differences in the default mode and frontoparietal networks in older adults with Down syndrome are related to obstructive sleep apnea

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

There was a significant interaction between OSA and diagnosis for within- and between-DMN FC (p-values<0.05). The CS-OSA group had higher FC than the CI-OSA group. There was also a trend showing higher FC in CS-OSA compared to CS-nonOSA. For within- and between-FPN FC, the same groups differences were observed, though the interaction was trending (p-values<0.10). FC did not differ between CS and CI individuals without OSA, nor between CI groups with and without OSA. We observed higher within- and between-DMN FC in the CS-OSA compared to the CI-OSA group; however, this difference was not observed between the CS-nonOSA and CI-nonOSA groups. This result suggests a unique FC signature for individuals with DS and OSA prior to AD-related cognitive impairment. These findings suggest that there's a unique FC signature for individuals with DS and OSA such that FC is initially elevated prior to AD-related cognitive impairment then is reduced following AD symptom onset.

@article{taylor2025-41434168,
  author  = {Taylor, Lisa M. and Adams, Jenna N. and DiProspero, Natalie D. and McMillan, Liv C. and Sathishkumar, Mithra T. and Doran, Eric W. and Lai, Florence Y. and Rosas, H. Diana and others},
  title   = {{Functional connectivity differences in the default mode and frontoparietal networks in older adults with Down syndrome are related to obstructive sleep apnea}},
  journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.1002/alz70862_110032},
  pmid    = {41434168},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70862_110032}
}

Key findings

• There was a significant interaction between OSA and diagnosis for within- and between-DMN FC (p-values<0.05).
• The CS-OSA group had higher FC than the CI-OSA group.
• There was also a trend showing higher FC in CS-OSA compared to CS-nonOSA.
• For within- and between-FPN FC, the same groups differences were observed, though the interaction was trending (p-values<0.10).
• FC did not differ between CS and CI individuals without OSA, nor between CI groups with and without OSA.

Why it matters

In older adults with Down syndrome, brain-network connectivity depended on both obstructive sleep apnea and cognitive status: among those with sleep apnea, people who were still cognitively stable had higher default mode network connectivity than those with cognitive impairment. No such difference appeared in people without sleep apnea. The authors suggest a distinct brain signature in Down syndrome with sleep apnea, with connectivity elevated before Alzheimer-related cognitive impairment and reduced after symptoms start.

Study details

• Evidence strengthLow

Read the original

• DOI: 10.1002/alz70862_110032
• PubMed: 41434168
• Original source →
• Free full text: Alzheimer s & Dementia →

Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).

Related studies in Down syndrome and Alzheimer's

• The Occurrence of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Its Association With Alzheimer Dementia in Medicaid-Enrolled Adults With Down Syndrome, 2011-2019 American journal of medical genetics. Part A · 2025-09-03 · usefulness score 44/100
• Preliminary Investigation of Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Alzheimer's Disease in Down Syndrome Sleep · 2025-07-23 · usefulness score 48/100
• Preliminary investigation of obstructive sleep apnea and Alzheimer's disease in down syndrome Sleep advances : a journal of the Sleep Research Society · 2025-07-23 · usefulness score 47/100
• Frailty in Adults With Down Syndrome: Cognitive, Functional and Biomarker Associations Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR · 2026-08-18 · usefulness score 37/100
• Prevalence of Aging, Dementia, and Multimorbidity in Older Adults With Down Syndrome JAMA neurology · 2018-11-01 · usefulness score 61/100
• The value of the Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test (Children's Version) in an epidemiological study of older adults with Down syndrome The British journal of clinical psychology · 1998-02-01 · usefulness score 46/100

Also tagged “down”

527 studies in the library carry the topic tag “down”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 527 tagged studies.

• [Alzheimer's dementia in people with Down syndrome : Results of guideline-assisted expert interviews on healthcare deficits in the diagnostics and treatment as well as solution approaches] Zeitschrift fur Gerontologie und Geriatrie · 2024-10-09 · usefulness score 35/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Potential interaction between the GARS-AIRS-GART Gene and CP2/LBP-1c/LSF transcription factor in Down syndrome-related Alzheimer disease Cellular and molecular neurobiology · 2007-09-28 · usefulness score 26/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Normal levels of KIF5 but reduced KLC1 levels in both Alzheimer disease and Alzheimer disease in Down syndrome: evidence suggesting defects in anterograde transport Alzheimer's research & therapy · 2021-03-10 · usefulness score 39/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's

Similar studies

• Impaired default network functional connectivity in autosomal dominant Alzheimer disease 2013 · Brain scans and imaging
• Factors Associated with Atypical Cognitive Trajectories in Older Adults with Down Syndrome 2025 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Association between frontal cortex oxidative damage and beta-amyloid as a function of age in Down syndrome 2012 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Epilepsy and subsequent dementia in adults with down syndrome: a propensity score-matched cohort study using federated electronic health records 2026 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Default Mode Network Functional Connectivity in Early and Late Mild Cognitive Impairment: Results From the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative 2016 · Brain scans and imaging
• Divergent network connectivity changes in behavioural variant frontotemporal dementia and Alzheimer's disease 2010 · Getting a diagnosis

More on Down syndrome and Alzheimer's

• A review that covers this ground The importance of understanding individual differences in Down syndrome F1000Research · 2016-03-23 · usefulness score 40/100
• Newest in this subject Differential endothelial cell remodeling in Down syndrome and APP duplication drives distinct blood brain barrier dysfunction bioRxiv · 2026-10-30 · Preprint — not yet peer-reviewed · usefulness score 16/100
• Newest in this subject Memory and Plasma pTau217 Refine Prognosis in Down Syndrome Annals of neurology · 2026-10-02 · Peer-reviewed · usefulness score 47/100

See all studies in Down syndrome and Alzheimer's →