DS-ARC: A Remote Digital Cognitive Test for Down Syndrome-Related Alzheimer’s Disease
Official title: DS-ARC: A Remote Digital Cognitive Assessment for Down Syndrome-Associated Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11504762 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smartphone-based cognitive test is being developed to help people with Down syndrome who are at risk for Alzheimer’s disease understand and track early brain changes.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Washington University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Saint Louis, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2023 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $166,428 |
| NIH project number | 3R01AG081394-03S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11504762 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Down syndrome who are at risk for DS-AD and can use a smartphone for frequent short assessments.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without Down syndrome or those not at risk for DS-AD may not benefit from this specific digital assessment.
What this research studies
This project creates a smartphone app that administers quick cognitive tasks several times a day for a week, while participants go about daily life. The goal is to produce reliable measures of cognitive change that reflect real-life function, rather than a single in-clinic snapshot. By focusing on Down syndrome-associated Alzheimer’s disease, it aims to capture pre-symptomatic and early-symptomatic stages to support future prevention efforts. The approach builds on prior research showing smartphone assessments can link with Alzheimer’s biomarkers while reducing burdens of clinic visits. Participants will be adults with Down syndrome who are at risk for DS-AD and will complete a burst-testing protocol in their natural environment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this digital tool could enable earlier detection and closer monitoring of cognitive changes in people with Down syndrome at risk for DS-AD, informing care decisions and trial eligibility.
How similar studies have gone: Prior similar digital cognitive assessments in Alzheimer’s research have shown reliable results and meaningful correlations with biomarkers, supporting feasibility.
Where this research is happening
-
Washington University
Saint Louis, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hassenstab, Jason J — Washington University
- Study coordinator: Hassenstab, Jason J
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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.
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Remote monitoring of Alzheimer’s changes in adults with Down syndrome
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How sleep and body temperature affect Alzheimer's risk in adults with Down syndrome
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DS-ARC: A smartphone-based cognitive test for Down syndrome–associated Alzheimer’s disease
A smartphone-based cognitive test will be developed and tested to help detect early signs of dementia in adults with Down syndrome.
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DS-ARC: A smartphone-based cognitive test for Down syndrome-associated Alzheimer's disease
A new smartphone app will measure day-to-day thinking changes in adults with Down syndrome who may develop Alzheimer’s disease, helping catch early signs in a convenient, real-world way.
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DS-ARC: A smartphone test to track cognitive change in people with Down syndrome at risk for Alzheimer’s
A smartphone-based cognitive test is being developed and tested to help monitor early symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease in people with Down syndrome.
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.