Why More Than 90% of Adults With Down Syndrome Develop…

Why More Than 90% of Adults With Down Syndrome Develop Alzheimer’s And What Scientists Are Learning Published by TALMedora Editorial | Neurology | Alzheimer's Disease | Down Syndrome For most people, Alzheimer's disease is considered a risk of aging. For individuals living with Down syndrome, however, the risk is dramatically higher. Research shows that more than 9 out of 10 adults with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer's disease by their early to mid-60s, often years earlier than the general population. Scientists are now working to understand why this happens and whether earlier detection could eventually lead to better treatments and improved quality of life. Down syndrome occurs when a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. While this additional chromosome influences many aspects of development, it also carries an important Alzheimer's-related consequence. Chromosome 21 contains the gene responsible for producing amyloid precursor protein (APP), a molecule involved in the formation of amyloid plaques in the brain. Because people with Down syndrome have an extra copy of this chromosome, they produce higher levels of APP throughout their lives. Over time, this can lead to excessive accumulation of amyloid protein in the brain, one of the hallmark biolo