Remote monitoring of Alzheimer’s changes in adults with Down syndrome
Official title: Remote assessments for Alzheimer’s disease cognitive decline in adults with Down syndrome
Funded at Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr · NIH-11532997 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study tests remote (at-home) ways to track Alzheimer’s-related thinking changes in adults with Down syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cincinnati, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | July 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $249,000 |
| NIH project number | 4R00AG084738-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11532997 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Down syndrome aged 22–55 who are at risk for or beginning to show Alzheimer’s-related cognitive changes.
✕Less likely to help
Adults outside the target age range or without a Down syndrome diagnosis may not benefit from these remote assessments.
What this research studies
This project aims to make it easier for adults with Down syndrome to have their cognitive health monitored from home, using remote assessments instead of frequent in-person visits. Researchers will adapt and test remote cognitive tasks to see if they reliably reflect what in-person tests show. The study has two phases: a feasibility/family-satisfaction phase and a larger phase comparing remote and in-person results over time. It seeks participants aged roughly 22 to 55 to capture the early stages of Alzheimer’s-related changes. If successful, remote monitoring could speed trial recruitment and reduce participant burden while maintaining data quality.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients could have simpler, less burdensome ways to monitor cognitive changes related to Alzheimer’s disease.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows remote cognitive assessments can be feasible; this study extends those methods to the Down syndrome population.
Where this research is happening
-
Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
Cincinnati, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Schworer, Emily Katherine — Cincinnati Childrens Hosp Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Schworer, Emily Katherine
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Tracking cognitive decline in adults with Down syndrome using remote assessments
This study is looking at how we can use remote check-ins to keep track of memory and thinking changes in adults with Down syndrome who might be experiencing early signs of Alzheimer's, making it easier for them to participate without needing to travel for in-person visits.
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How COVID-19 infection and genes may influence memory and dementia risk
This study looks at how getting COVID-19 and a person’s genes together affect the chance of developing memory problems and Alzheimer’s disease later in life.
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NGF Metabolism as a biomarker for cognitive decline in familial Alzheimer's disease
Researchers are studying whether patterns in nerve growth factor pathways in blood and CSF can signal early, preclinical stages of Alzheimer's in people with genetic risk.
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NGF metabolism as an early biomarker for cognitive decline in familial Alzheimer's disease
This project tests whether NGF pathway proteins in blood and CSF can signal early, preclinical changes in people with familial Alzheimer’s disease.
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NGF Metabolic Dysfunction as a Marker of Cognitive Decline in Autosomal Dominant Alzheimer's Disease
This project looks at nerve growth factor pathways in people with a genetic form of Alzheimer's to see if blood and spinal fluid markers can identify early brain changes before symptoms appear.
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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.
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.