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53/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 53 out of 100. Down syndrome and Alzheimer's

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

Context Down syndrome (DS) is the most common genetic cause of mental retardation. However, the biological determinants of this are poorly understood. The serum sodium/myo-inositol cotransporter gene is located on chromosome 21, and myo-inositol affects neuronal survival and function. Nevertheless, few in vivo studies have examined the role of myo-inositol in DS. Objective To determine if people with DS have significant differences in brain myo-inositol concentration from controls and if, within people with DS, this is related to cognitive ability. Design A case-control study. Setting Outpatient. Participants The sample was composed of 38 adults with DS without dementia (age range, 18-66 years) and 42 healthy controls (age range, 19-66 years). The DS and control groups did not differ significantly in age, sex, ethnic origin, apolipoprotein E status, or handedness. Main outcome measures Hippocampal myo-inositol concentration and cognitive performance, as measured by the Cambridge Cognitive Examination. Results Hippocampal myo-inositol concentration was significantly higher in people with DS than in controls (P = .006), and within people with DS, increased myo-inositol concentration was significantly negatively correlated with overall cognitive ability (P = .04). Conclusions Adults with DS have a significantly increased brain concentration of myo-inositol, and this is associated with reduced cognitive ability. Future studies are required to relate myo-inositol concentration in people with DS to brain development and increased risk for developing Alzheimer disease.

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Beacher, F., Simmons, A., Daly, E., Prasher, V., Adams, C., Margallo-Lana, M. L., et al. (2005). Hippocampal myo-inositol and cognitive ability in adults with Down syndrome: an in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Archives of general psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.62.12.1360

Vancouver

Beacher F, Simmons A, Daly E, Prasher V, Adams C, Margallo-Lana ML, et al. Hippocampal myo-inositol and cognitive ability in adults with Down syndrome: an in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study. Archives of general psychiatry. 2005. doi:10.1001/archpsyc.62.12.1360. PMID: 16330724.

BibTeX

@article{beacher2005-16330724,
  author  = {Beacher, F. and Simmons, A. and Daly, E. and Prasher, V. and Adams, C. and Margallo-Lana, M. L. and Morris, R. and Lovestone, S. and others},
  title   = {{Hippocampal myo-inositol and cognitive ability in adults with Down syndrome: an in vivo proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy study}},
  journal = {Archives of general psychiatry},
  year    = {2005},
  doi     = {10.1001/archpsyc.62.12.1360},
  pmid    = {16330724},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1001/archpsyc.62.12.1360}
}

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Key findings

Objective To determine if people with DS have significant differences in brain myo-inositol concentration from controls and if, within people with DS, this is related to cognitive ability.
The DS and control groups did not differ significantly in age, sex, ethnic origin, apolipoprotein E status, or handedness.
Results Hippocampal myo-inositol concentration was significantly higher in people with DS than in controls (P = .006), and within people with DS, increased myo-inositol concentration was significantly negatively correlated with overall cognitive ability (P = .04).
Conclusions Adults with DS have a significantly increased brain concentration of myo-inositol, and this is associated with reduced cognitive ability.
Future studies are required to relate myo-inositol concentration in people with DS to brain development and increased risk for developing Alzheimer disease.

Why it matters

This case-control study found higher hippocampal myo-inositol concentration in adults with Down syndrome than controls, and within that group higher myo-inositol was linked to lower cognitive ability. It reports an association only and does not test any treatment.

Study details

Study designcase-control study
Participants38
Evidence strengthModerate

How this study scored 53/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a case-control study. Scored zero for effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Archives of general psychiatry)
Journal's citation record	4 / 4	Archives of General Psychiatry: journal h-index 543 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	6 / 12	A case-control study
Strength of evidence	3 / 5	Rated “moderate” in our summary
Peer-review validation	10 / 10	Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal.
How recent	1 / 5	2005 — older than 20 years, still counted
Sample size	1 / 4	38 participants
Effect reported	0 / 3	No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Studied in people	3 / 3	Studied in people (participant count stated)
Randomized / blinded	0 / 2	No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	4 / 7	Cited 65 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	1 / 5	2.8 citations a year over 23 year(s) since 2005
Impact for its field and year	2 / 6	Cited 1.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	2 / 6	Cited by 3 other studies in this library
Still being cited	1 / 4	Cited 12 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	4 / 4	Last-listed author Declan Murphy: h-index 113 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	1 / 3	King's College London: institution h-index 1,348 (OpenAlex)
Multicenter collaboration	1 / 3	OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 16330724)
Free to read	0 / 2	Behind a paywall — scores zero
Total	53 / 100	—

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