DS-ARC: A smartphone-based cognitive test for Down syndrome-associated Alzheimer's disease
Official title: DS-ARC: A Remote Digital Cognitive Assessment for Down Syndrome-Associated Alzheimer's Disease
Funded at Washington University · NIH-11504765 · Data updated 2026-11-12
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.
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 | 3R01AG081394-03S3 |
| Project ID | NIH-11504765 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.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without Down syndrome or those unable to use a smartphone may not benefit from this tool.
What this research studies
This project creates and tests a smartphone-based cognitive assessment designed for people with Down syndrome at risk for Alzheimer’s disease. Participants will complete short brain tests several times a day for a week, in their normal daily environments, to capture true changes in cognition. The week’s results will be averaged to reduce the impact of mood, sleep, or stress on the findings. Prior research suggests this approach is reliable and could align with brain biomarkers to guide future prevention efforts. The goal is to provide a practical tool that could streamline monitoring and accelerate testing of preventative therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this tool could enable earlier detection and closer monitoring of cognitive changes in DS-AD, potentially guiding timely interventions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous ARC studies in Alzheimer’s research show reliable measurements and meaningful links to biomarkers, supporting this approach.
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
A study tests remote (at-home) ways to track Alzheimer’s-related thinking changes in adults with Down syndrome.
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How sleep and body temperature affect Alzheimer's risk in adults with Down syndrome
Researchers will follow adults with Down syndrome over several years to learn whether sleep problems and lower body temperature are linked to earlier Alzheimer's changes.
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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 Remote Digital Cognitive Test for Down Syndrome-Related Alzheimer’s Disease
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.
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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.