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Review
. 2020 Aug 3;12(1):e12065.
doi: 10.1002/dad2.12065. eCollection 2020.

The Alzheimer's Biomarker Consortium-Down Syndrome: Rationale and methodology

Benjamin L Handen  1 , Ira T Lott  2 , Bradley T Christian  3 , Nicole Schupf  4 , Sid OBryant  5 , Mark Mapstone  6 , Anne M Fagan  7 , Joseph H Lee  8 , Dana Tudorascu  1 , Mei-Cheng Wang  9 , Elizabeth Head  10 , William Klunk  1 , Beau Ances  11 , Florence Lai  12 , Shahid Zaman  13 , Sharon Krinsky-McHale  14 , Adam M Brickman  8 , H Diana Rosas  15 , Annie Cohen  1 , Howard Andrews  4 , Sigan Hartley  3 , Wayne Silverman  2 ; Alzheimer's Biomarker Consortium‐Down Syndrome (ABC‐DS)
Affiliations
Review

The Alzheimer's Biomarker Consortium-Down Syndrome: Rationale and methodology

Benjamin L Handen et al. Alzheimers Dement (Amst). .

Abstract

Introduction: Adults with Down syndrome (DS) are at exceptionally high risk for Alzheimer's disease (AD), with virtually all individuals developing key neuropathological features by age 40. Identifying biomarkers of AD progression in DS can provide valuable insights into pathogenesis and suggest targets for disease modifying treatments.

Methods: We describe the development of a multi-center, longitudinal study of biomarkers of AD in DS. The protocol includes longitudinal examination of clinical, cognitive, blood and cerebrospinal fluid-based biomarkers, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography measures (at 16-month intervals), as well as genetic modifiers of AD risk and progression.

Results: Approximately 400 individuals will be enrolled in the study (more than 370 to date). The methodological approach from the administrative, clinical, neuroimaging, omics, neuropathology, and statistical cores is provided.

Discussion: This represents the largest U.S.-based, multi-site, biomarker initiative of AD in DS. Findings can inform other multidisciplinary networks studying AD in the general population.

Keywords: ABC‐DS; Alzheimer's disease; Down syndrome; dementia.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to declare.

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