Sleep and body temperature changes linked to Alzheimer’s risk in adults with Down syndrome
Official title: Sleep and Temperature Disturbance as risk factors for Alzheimer's Disease in Down Syndrome: a Longitudinal Study
Funded at New York University School of Medicine · NIH-11456945 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at whether sleep problems and lower body temperature in adults with Down syndrome are linked to higher chances of developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | New York University School of Medicine NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | February 1, 2023 |
| Project end | January 31, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $239,898 |
| NIH project number | 4R01AG080769-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11456945 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults age 21 and older with Down syndrome, especially those without dementia who can take part in sleep testing and monitoring, are the ideal participants.
✕Less likely to help
People without Down syndrome, children under 21, or individuals already living with advanced Alzheimer’s dementia are unlikely to benefit directly from joining this project.
What this research studies
You would be followed over several years while researchers track your sleep (including sleep apnea), body temperature patterns, and brain-related biomarkers like amyloid and tau. The team will use sleep studies, wearable monitors, and brain imaging or biomarker tests to see how these measures change before dementia starts. The goal is to find modifiable problems that appear earlier in people with Down syndrome and may speed up Alzheimer’s changes. If those links are clear, it could point to treatments or lifestyle changes to try to delay dementia.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could identify treatable sleep or temperature problems that lower the risk or delay the start of Alzheimer’s in people with Down syndrome.
How similar studies have gone: Prior research in typical older adults has linked sleep problems and body temperature changes to Alzheimer’s biology, and preliminary data suggest these issues are pronounced in Down syndrome but intervention success is still unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
New York University School of Medicine
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Blessing, Esther Marian — New York University School of Medicine
- Study coordinator: Blessing, Esther Marian
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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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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Investigating sleep and temperature disturbances as risk factors for Alzheimer's in individuals with Down syndrome.
This study is looking at how problems with sleep and body temperature might increase the risk of Alzheimer's Disease in people with Down syndrome, and it aims to find ways to improve their health by focusing on things like sleep apnea and sleep patterns.
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P-CARRS-BRAIN: Predicting Alzheimer’s risk in South Asians in India using genetic, behavior, and vascular data
Aims to predict Alzheimer’s disease risk in middle-aged South Asians by combining genetic, lifestyle, and vascular information to catch early changes before dementia develops.
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P-CARRS-BRAIN: Predicting Alzheimer’s risk in South Asians in India using genetics, behavior, and vascular data
Aimed at people 21 and older, this project looks at how biology, behavior, and blood vessel health together may signal the early risk of Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias in South Asians.
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Sex-specific blood biomarkers predict dementia risk in older adults
This NIH project tests how blood biomarkers and sex differences predict future dementia in older people, with the goal of personalized prognosis and prevention.
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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.