Brain network problems tied to memory and thinking in adults with Down syndrome
Official title: Default mode network dysfunction in Down Syndrome
Funded at St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center · NIH-11457058 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at why key brain cells and networks that support memory and self-awareness break down in adults with Down syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Phoenix, United States) |
| Project start | April 15, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $735,569 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG081286-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11457058 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are adults with Down syndrome, especially those in midlife or older, whether or not they currently have memory or thinking problems.
✕Less likely to help
People without Down syndrome or very young children with Down syndrome are unlikely to benefit directly from this specific project.
What this research studies
You would hear how researchers compare brain samples and cellular data from people with Down syndrome who have dementia to those who do not. They focus on two connected brain areas (the frontal cortex and precuneus) that are important for memory and self-awareness and are part of the brain's default mode network. The team examines tau and amyloid protein changes and reads the activity of genes in single neurons to find patterns linked to decline. Findings may point to the cellular steps that cause dementia in Down syndrome and suggest targets for future treatments.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal molecular targets that lead to new ways to prevent or slow dementia in people with Down syndrome and related Alzheimer disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that tau and amyloid pathology occur in Down syndrome, but comparing single-neuron gene activity between demented and non-demented people with Down syndrome is a newer approach.
Where this research is happening
-
St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
Phoenix, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Mufson, Elliott Jay — St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Mufson, Elliott Jay
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Exploring how Down syndrome affects optic nerve health in kids
A study using a mouse model to understand why optic nerve problems are common in children with Down syndrome and how to prevent them.
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Executive Function Enhancement for Young Children with Down Syndrome
A caregiver-guided program for kids with Down syndrome aged up to 11 to strengthen their thinking skills during early childhood.
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Silencing an Extra Chromosome to Help Down Syndrome and Related Conditions
A patient-friendly plan to use a gene-based approach to quiet an extra chromosome in cells and a mouse model to reduce disease-related effects in Down syndrome and other chromosomal imbalance disorders.
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Infant Down Syndrome Brain and Behavior Study
A study of infants with Down syndrome to collect brain imaging and developmental data, creating a large, shared resource to understand how autism and other factors relate to development.
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DS-ARC: Smartphone-based cognitive check for people with Down syndrome at risk for Alzheimer’s
A smartphone-based cognitive test is being developed and tested for people with Down syndrome who may develop Alzheimer’s disease, to track changes quietly in daily life.
-
Immune and NGF factors in Alzheimer’s for adults with Down syndrome
This grant studies why people with Down syndrome develop Alzheimer’s disease by looking at immune signals and nerve growth factor problems.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.