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Risk factors for dementia in people with down syndrome: issues in assessment and diagnosis
Bush A, Beail N.. American journal of mental retardation : AJMR, 2004-03-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
It has been clearly established that there is an increased incidence of early onset dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) in people who have Down syndrome. There are variations in the age of onset of the clinical signs of DAT, which may be accounted for by different risk factors. In this review we examined the evidence that different biological and psychological factors may influence the risk for DAT. Limitations in design of early studies, the need for consistent diagnostic criteria for DAT in individuals with Down syndrome, and the lack of adequate psychometric tools to detect cognitive change are highlighted. Implications for research and clinical practice are considered in order to assess potential risk factors.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Bush, A., & Beail, N. (2004). Risk factors for dementia in people with down syndrome: issues in assessment and diagnosis. American journal of mental retardation : AJMR. https://doi.org/10.1352/0895-8017(2004)109<83:rffdip>2.0.co;2
Vancouver
Bush A, Beail N. Risk factors for dementia in people with down syndrome: issues in assessment and diagnosis. American journal of mental retardation : AJMR. 2004. doi:10.1352/0895-8017(2004)109<83:rffdip>2.0.co;2. PMID: 15000668.
BibTeX
@article{bush2004-15000668,
author = {Bush, A. and Beail, N.},
title = {{Risk factors for dementia in people with down syndrome: issues in assessment and diagnosis}},
journal = {American journal of mental retardation : AJMR},
year = {2004},
doi = {10.1352/0895-8017(2004)109<83:rffdip>2.0.co;2},
pmid = {15000668},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1352/0895-8017(2004)109<83:rffdip>2.0.co;2}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- It has been clearly established that there is an increased incidence of early onset dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) in people who have Down syndrome.
- There are variations in the age of onset of the clinical signs of DAT, which may be accounted for by different risk factors.
- In this review we examined the evidence that different biological and psychological factors may influence the risk for DAT.
- Limitations in design of early studies, the need for consistent diagnostic criteria for DAT in individuals with Down syndrome, and the lack of adequate psychometric tools to detect cognitive change are highlighted.
- Implications for research and clinical practice are considered in order to assess potential risk factors.
Why it matters
This review examines evidence that biological and psychological factors may influence the risk of dementia of the Alzheimer type in people with Down syndrome. It highlights limitations in study design and the need for better diagnostic criteria and does not report any treatment or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 38/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on institution's track record, so that was left out: it earned 37 of the 97 points we could judge it on, which is 38 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (American journal of mental retardation : AJMR) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | American Journal on Mental Retardation: journal h-index 104 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2004 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 109 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.5 citations a year over 24 year(s) since 2004 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 11 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Nigel Beail: h-index 32 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multicenter collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 0 institution(s) in 0 countries — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 15000668) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 37 / 97 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 37 of the 97 points we could judge it on is 38 out of 100. |
| Total | 38 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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