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-11504766 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A smartphone-based cognitive test will be developed and tested to help detect early signs of dementia in adults with Down syndrome.
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 | 3R01AG081394-03S4 |
| Project ID | NIH-11504766 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 for daily tasks may not benefit.
What this research studies
People with Down syndrome are at high risk for developing Alzheimer’s–related dementia, and this project creates a quick, daily smartphone test to track cognitive changes in real life. Over one week, participants will complete brief tasks on their phones several times per day to reduce day-to-day fluctuations and improve reliability. The study builds on prior work showing that smartphone methods can relate to brain biomarkers and reduce the need for frequent clinic visits. By capturing natural, within-day variation, DS-ARC aims to identify early, pre-symptomatic changes that could guide future prevention efforts.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this tool could enable earlier detection of cognitive changes in DS-AD and reduce the burden of frequent clinic testing for patients and families.
How similar studies have gone: Previous ARC studies in AD have shown reliable measurements that relate to biomarkers, suggesting potential success with 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
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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 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 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.