Generational effects in Down syndrome: Enriched environment enhances functionality without reducing Alzheimer's disease risk

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: INTRODUCTION: Down syndrome (DS) is the leading cause of intellectual disability (ID) and a genetic form of Alzheimer's disease (AD). We wanted to assess whether generational changes have induced (1) milder ID with greater independence and (2) delayed AD diagnosis. METHODS: We analyzed 681 asymptomatic DS to test generational effects on ID, functionality, and cognition. In 353 DS individuals with AD, we compared clinical diagnosis age by ID using analysis of variance. In addition, dementia diagnosis age was examined through a published meta-analysis. RESULTS: Our results indicate a generational shift toward a higher proportion of individuals with mild/moderate ID, greater intelligence, and autonomy. However, it was not paralleled by an ID-related delay in the age at AD onset in our cohort, or by generational delays reported over the past 35 years. DISCUSSION: The findings highlight notable generational improvements in DS, but no effects on the age at AD dementia diagnosis. HIGHLIGHTS: A generational effect has reduced the severity of intellectual disability in Down syndrome (DS). Individuals with DS have increased autonomy and improved intellectual milestones. The enriched environment has not delayed the age at Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia in DS. Further studies should confirm if cognitive reserve might delay AD in DS.

Source: Alzheimer s & Dementia

DOI: 10.1002/alz.70447

Authors: Lídia Vaqué‐Alcázar, Laura Videla, Bessy Benejam, Laura Del Hoyo Soriano, Isabel Barroeta, Susana Fernandez, Íñigo Rodríguez‐Baz, José Enrique Arriola‐Infante, Javier Arranz, Lucía Maure Blesa, Aida Sanjuan‐Hernández, Alejandra O. Morcillo‐Nieto, Alexandre Bejanin, Eider M. Arenaza‐Urquijo, Alberto Lleó, David Bartrés‐Faz, Maria Carmona‐Iragui, Juan Fortea

Institutions: Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Hospital de Sant Pau, Consorci Institut D'Investigacions Biomediques August Pi I Sunyer, Institut de Recerca Sant Pau, Universitat de Barcelona, Biomedical Research Networking Center on Neurodegenerative Diseases, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Institut Guttmann

Language: English

Topic: Down syndrome and intellectual disability research

Subfield: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,200

Funders: Foundation for the National Institutes of Health, Alzheimer's Association, BrightFocus Foundation, Fondation Jérôme Lejeune, Global Brain Health Institute, European Commission, Fondation Jérôme Lejeune, Generalitat de Catalunya, Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats, Fundación Tatiana Pérez de Guzmán el Bueno, National Institutes of Health, Horizon 2020 Framework Programme, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, National Institute on Aging

OpenAlex ID: W4414779970