Down Syndrome (DS) is characterised by premature aging and an accelerated decline of cognitive functions in the vast majority of cases. As the life expectancy of DS persons is rapidly increasing, this decline is becoming a dramatic health problem. The aim of this study was to thoroughly evaluate a group of 67 non-demented persons with DS of different ages (11 to 66 years), from a neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric and psychomotor point of view in order to evaluate in a cross-sectional study the age-related adaptive and neuropsychological features, and to possibly identify early signs predictive of cognitive decline. The main finding of this study is that both neuropsychological functions and adaptive skills are lower in adult DS persons over 40 years old, compared to younger ones. In particular, language and short memory skills, frontal lobe functions, visuo-spatial abilities and adaptive behaviour appear to be the more affected domains. A growing deficit in verbal comprehension, along with social isolation, loss of interest and greater fatigue in daily tasks, are the main features found in older, non demented DS persons evaluated in our study. It is proposed that these signs can be alarm bells for incipient dementia, and that neuro-cognitive rehabilitation and psycho-pharmacological interventions must start as soon as the fourth decade (or even earlier) in DS persons, i.e. at an age where interventions can have the greatest efficacy.

Age-related changes of adaptive and neuropsychological features in persons with Down Syndrome

GHEZZO, ALESSANDRO;SALVIOLI, STEFANO;SCURTI, MARIA;LOMARTIRE, LAURA;BEDETTI, FEDERICA;COCCHI, GUIDO;CASTELLANI, GASTONE;FRANCESCHI, CLAUDIO
2014

Abstract

Down Syndrome (DS) is characterised by premature aging and an accelerated decline of cognitive functions in the vast majority of cases. As the life expectancy of DS persons is rapidly increasing, this decline is becoming a dramatic health problem. The aim of this study was to thoroughly evaluate a group of 67 non-demented persons with DS of different ages (11 to 66 years), from a neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric and psychomotor point of view in order to evaluate in a cross-sectional study the age-related adaptive and neuropsychological features, and to possibly identify early signs predictive of cognitive decline. The main finding of this study is that both neuropsychological functions and adaptive skills are lower in adult DS persons over 40 years old, compared to younger ones. In particular, language and short memory skills, frontal lobe functions, visuo-spatial abilities and adaptive behaviour appear to be the more affected domains. A growing deficit in verbal comprehension, along with social isolation, loss of interest and greater fatigue in daily tasks, are the main features found in older, non demented DS persons evaluated in our study. It is proposed that these signs can be alarm bells for incipient dementia, and that neuro-cognitive rehabilitation and psycho-pharmacological interventions must start as soon as the fourth decade (or even earlier) in DS persons, i.e. at an age where interventions can have the greatest efficacy.
2014
Ghezzo A; Salvioli S; Solimando MC; Palmieri A; Chiostergi C; Scurti M; Lomartire L; Bedetti F; Cocchi G; Follo D; Pipitone E; Rovatti P; Zamberletti J; Gomiero T; Castellani G; Franceschi C
File in questo prodotto:
File Dimensione Formato  
journal.pone.0113111.PDF

accesso aperto

Tipo: Versione (PDF) editoriale
Licenza: Licenza per Accesso Aperto. Creative Commons Attribuzione (CCBY)
Dimensione 571 kB
Formato Adobe PDF
571 kB Adobe PDF Visualizza/Apri
pone.0113111.s001.docx

accesso aperto

Descrizione: File S1: Supporting files. Cognitive, neuropsychological and adaptive assessment. Details and references on the tests used for these assessments. Table S1, DS persons who scored “0” at each neuropsychological test. Table S2, Analysis of DSQIID data indicating a worsened condition per single item. Numbers of persons are reported per age group and in the total sample. Worsening is considered when the answer to the item is “always but worse”, or “new symptoms”, or “yes”. Table S3, A: Neuropsychological and cognitive test; B Vineland Adaptive Behaviour Scale. Comparison between the means values in 3 age groups over 18 years, performed using the ANOVA or the equivalent non parametric test (* = Kruskal-Wallis). The values are expressed as means ± SD. False Discovery Rate values (FDR) are reported for each item. In bold significant p values are reported. In square brackets the number of subjects evaluated for groups subdivided for age. 18–29 years group =  C; 30–39 years group =  D; ≥40 years group = E
Tipo: File Supplementare
Licenza: Licenza per Accesso Aperto. Creative Commons Attribuzione (CCBY)
Dimensione 133.45 kB
Formato Microsoft Word XML
133.45 kB Microsoft Word XML Visualizza/Apri
pone.0113111.s002.xlsx

accesso aperto

Descrizione: File S2: General DS Database in excel format.
Tipo: File Supplementare
Licenza: Licenza per Accesso Aperto. Creative Commons Attribuzione (CCBY)
Dimensione 65.26 kB
Formato Microsoft Excel XML
65.26 kB Microsoft Excel XML Visualizza/Apri
pone.0113111.s003.xlsx

accesso aperto

Descrizione: File S3: DS Database for the DSQIID data in excel format
Tipo: File Supplementare
Licenza: Licenza per Accesso Aperto. Creative Commons Attribuzione (CCBY)
Dimensione 23.81 kB
Formato Microsoft Excel XML
23.81 kB Microsoft Excel XML Visualizza/Apri

I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.

Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11585/388316
Citazioni
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.pmc??? 23
  • Scopus 51
  • ???jsp.display-item.citation.isi??? 47
social impact