Learning and memory as a function of age in Down syndrome: a study using animal-based tasks

Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are at a high risk for developing Alzheimer disease (AD) after the age 40; however, low levels of intellectual functioning, coupled with impaired language ability, confound the detection of AD. Comparative neuropsychological tests developed in animal models of aging and cognition do not require intact language function and can be useful for detecting changes in cognition. Experimental paradigms used to detect age-dependent cognitive deficits in animal models were applied in the present study to measure cognitive function in a group of 20 adults with DS ranging in age from 22 to 58 years. Object discrimination, reversal learning, and spatial and object memory were administered using a modified Wisconsin General Testing Apparatus and reinforcement (penny rewards). When considering age as the only clinical variable to parallel the animal studies, age was significantly correlated with performance on object memory and marginally related to performance on reversal learning and spatial memory. However, when evaluating multiple clinical variables including age, a measure of intellectual ability (FSIQ), scores on the Dementia Questionnaire for Persons with Mental Retardation (DMR), and gender using regression analysis, scores on the DMR were the best predictors of errors of reversal learning, whereas FSIQ was the best predictor of performance on object memory. These results suggest that while age may be related to performance on learning and memory tasks, other clinical variables may be stronger predictors of performance in adults with DS. These changes may reflect prefrontal and medial temporal lobe dysfunction that is associated with the development of AD pathology in DS.

Key findings

• When considering age as the only clinical variable to parallel the animal studies, age was significantly correlated with performance on object memory and marginally related to performance on reversal learning and spatial memory.
• These results suggest that while age may be related to performance on learning and memory tasks, other clinical variables may be stronger predictors of performance in adults with DS.
• These changes may reflect prefrontal and medial temporal lobe dysfunction that is associated with the development of AD pathology in DS.

Why it matters

In 20 adults with Down syndrome, age was linked to performance on some memory tasks, but other clinical measures were stronger predictors. This is a small study and does not test any treatment or cure.

Study details

• Participants20
• Evidence strengthLow

Read the original

• DOI: 10.1016/j.pnpbp.2004.12.009
• PubMed: 15795053
• Original source →

May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.

@article{nelson2005-15795053,
  author  = {Nelson, L. and Johnson, J. K. and Freedman, M. and Lott, I. and Groot, J. and Chang, M. and Milgram, N. W. and Head, E.},
  title   = {{Learning and memory as a function of age in Down syndrome: a study using animal-based tasks}},
  journal = {Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology \& biological psychiatry},
  year    = {2005},
  doi     = {10.1016/j.pnpbp.2004.12.009},
  pmid    = {15795053},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2004.12.009}
}

Studies this one cites

Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.

• Neuropathological stageing of Alzheimer-related changes Acta Neuropathologica · 1991-09-01 · usefulness score 58/100 · Brain tissue and pathology
• Occurrence of neuropathological changes and dementia of Alzheimer's disease in Down's syndrome Annals of Neurology · 1985-03-01 · usefulness score 56/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Relationship between plaques, tangles, and dementia in Down syndrome Neurology · 1980-06-01 · usefulness score 51/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• The pathological association between Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease Mechanisms of ageing and development · 1988-05-01 · usefulness score 44/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Prevalence of dementia and impact on intellectual disability services Mental retardation · 2000-06-01 · usefulness score 38/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's

Later studies that cite this one

4 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references.

• Cognitive deficits and associated neurological complications in individuals with Down's syndrome The Lancet. Neurology · 2010-06-01 · usefulness score 53/100 · Getting a diagnosis
• Positron emission tomography of brain β-amyloid and τ levels in adults with Down syndrome Archives of neurology · 2011-06-01 · usefulness score 49/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Executive function in adolescents with Down Syndrome Journal of intellectual disability research : JIDR · 2010-02-28 · usefulness score 41/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Communication breaks-Down: from neurodevelopment defects to cognitive disabilities in Down syndrome Progress in neurobiology · 2010-01-25 · usefulness score 40/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's

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• Association between frontal cortex oxidative damage and beta-amyloid as a function of age in Down syndrome Biochimica et biophysica acta · 2011-10-08 · usefulness score 47/100
• The mortality of adults with Down syndrome as a function of age Mechanisms of ageing and development · 1986-11-01 · usefulness score 27/100

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• Age, adaptive behavior, and Alzheimer disease in Down syndrome: cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses 1994 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
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