Thinking variability and Alzheimer's markers in adults with Down syndrome
Intraindividual cognitive variability in aging adults with Down syndrome: associations with Alzheimer's disease plasma biomarkers, neuropathology and clinical dementia
This project looks at whether ups-and-downs in thinking tests can signal early Alzheimer's in adults with Down syndrome.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Newark, UNITED STATES) |
| Project ID | NIH-11395762 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would take short thinking tests that measure memory, attention, processing speed, and problem-solving so researchers can calculate how much your performance varies across tasks (intraindividual cognitive variability, IICV). The team will link those variability scores to blood markers (amyloid 42/40, p-tau217, NfL) and brain scans for amyloid and tau using data from about 300 adults in the ABC-DS study with visits at baseline and 18 months. The work uses existing ABC-DS cognitive and biomarker data and may involve blood draws and PET imaging collected at those visits. This approach seeks a low-cost, non-invasive signal that could point to early dementia risk in people with Down syndrome.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are adults with Down syndrome aged 21 or older who can complete brief cognitive testing and agree to blood draws and, if needed, brain imaging.
Not a fit: People under 21, individuals without Down syndrome, or those unable to complete cognitive tests or blood draws may not benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could help detect Alzheimer's-related decline earlier in adults with Down syndrome using inexpensive thinking tests and routine blood markers.
How similar studies have performed: IICV has been linked to early dementia in the general population, but applying it to adults with Down syndrome is new and largely untested.
Where this research is happening
Newark, UNITED STATES
- Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences — Newark, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Fonseca, Luciana — Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Fonseca, Luciana
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 below.