Reduced short latency afferent inhibition in patients with Down syndrome and Alzheimer-type dementia

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

Objective Adults with Down syndrome (DS) develop progressive cognitive impairment resembling the cognitive profile of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the specific neurobiological correlates of cognitive deficits in DS are still not completely understood, it has been proposed that cholinergic dysfunction may contribute to some of these deficits in DS who develop AD. A recently devised test of motor cortex excitability, the short latency afferent inhibition (SAI), has been proven to be helpful in exploring some cholinergic circuits of the human brain. The authors used this test to assess the involvement of the cholinergic transmission in the DS. Methods We evaluated the SAI in 12 patients with DS and in 15 healthy subjects. Results SAI was significantly reduced in DS patients when compared with the controls; the values correlated with the patient's age and the score on Dementia Scale for Down Syndrome. SAI was increased after administration of a single dose of donezepil in a subgroup of 5 patients. Conclusions Our findings suggest that, with respect to this putative marker of central cholinergic activity, dementia in aging DS shares pathophysiological similarities to AD in the general population. Significance This technique may help to clarify the pathophysiological basis of cognitive dysfunction in DS and may represent an additional tool for the diagnosis of Alzheimer-type dementia in subjects with DS.

Key findings

• Results SAI was significantly reduced in DS patients when compared with the controls; the values correlated with the patient's age and the score on Dementia Scale for Down Syndrome.
• Conclusions Our findings suggest that, with respect to this putative marker of central cholinergic activity, dementia in aging DS shares pathophysiological similarities to AD in the general population.

Why it matters

In 12 patients with Down syndrome, a brain stimulation test showed reduced cholinergic activity compared with healthy controls, and the measure improved after a single dose of donepezil in 5 patients. This small study suggests dementia in Down syndrome shares features with Alzheimer's disease, but it does not show that donepezil treats or prevents dementia.

Study details

• Participants12
• Evidence strengthLow

Read the original

• DOI: 10.1016/j.clinph.2006.07.134
• PubMed: 16931146
• 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{nardone2006-16931146,
  author  = {Nardone, R. and Marth, R. and Ausserer, H. and Bratti, A. and Tezzon, F.},
  title   = {{Reduced short latency afferent inhibition in patients with Down syndrome and Alzheimer-type dementia}},
  journal = {Clinical neurophysiology : official journal of the International Federation of Clinical Neurophysiology},
  year    = {2006},
  doi     = {10.1016/j.clinph.2006.07.134},
  pmid    = {16931146},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.clinph.2006.07.134}
}

Studies this one cites

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

• Effect of tacrine on language, praxis, and noncognitive behavioral problems in Alzheimer disease Archives of neurology · 1997-07-01 · usefulness score 61/100 · Treatments
• The natural history of dementia in Down's syndrome Archives of neurology · 1990-03-01 · usefulness score 57/100 · Digital health tools
• 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
• A prospective study of Alzheimer disease in Down syndrome Archives of neurology · 1989-08-01 · usefulness score 49/100 · How common it is
• Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease: response to donepezil Archives of neurology · 2002-07-01 · usefulness score 42/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's
• Protein expression in Down syndrome brain Amino acids · 2001-12-01 · usefulness score 39/100 · Down syndrome and Alzheimer's

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