title: Age-related changes of adaptive and neuropsychological features in persons with Down Syndrome.
abstract: Down Syndrome (DS) is characterised by premature aging and an accelerated decline of cognitive functions in the vast majority of cases. As the life expectancy of DS persons is rapidly increasing, this decline is becoming a dramatic health problem. The aim of this study was to thoroughly evaluate a group of 67 non-demented persons with DS of different ages (11 to 66 years), from a neuropsychological, neuropsychiatric and psychomotor point of view in order to evaluate in a cross-sectional study the age-related adaptive and neuropsychological features, and to possibly identify early signs predictive of cognitive decline. The main finding of this study is that both neuropsychological functions and adaptive skills are lower in adult DS persons over 40 years old, compared to younger ones. In particular, language and short memory skills, frontal lobe functions, visuo-spatial abilities and adaptive behaviour appear to be the more affected domains. A growing deficit in verbal comprehension, along with social isolation, loss of interest and greater fatigue in daily tasks, are the main features found in older, non demented DS persons evaluated in our study. It is proposed that these signs can be alarm bells for incipient dementia, and that neuro-cognitive rehabilitation and psycho-pharmacological interventions must start as soon as the fourth decade (or even earlier) in DS persons, i.e. at an age where interventions can have the greatest efficacy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Associazione Nazionale Famiglie di Persone con Disabilitá Affettiva e/o Relazionale (ANFFAS) Onlus, Macerata, Italy.
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ghezzo
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Interdepartmental Centre "L. Galvani" - CIG, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Salvioli
authors.affiliation: Service for Disabled Students - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria Caterina
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Solimando
authors.affiliation: Service for Disabled Students - University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Alice
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Palmieri
authors.affiliation: Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi-Onlus, Falconara (An), Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chiostergi
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Interdepartmental Centre "L. Galvani" - CIG, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scurti
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Interdepartmental Centre "L. Galvani" - CIG, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lomartire
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Neonatology - Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Federica
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Bedetti
authors.affiliation: Operative Unit of Neonatology - Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Cocchi
authors.affiliation: CEPS Centro Emiliano studi sociali per la trisomia 21, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Follo
authors.affiliation: Azienda USL Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pipitone
authors.affiliation: Comune di Bologna - Settore Salute, Sport e Città Sana, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Rovatti
authors.affiliation: Comune di Bologna - Settore Salute, Sport e Città Sana, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Jessica
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Zamberletti
authors.affiliation: Project DAD (Down Alzheimer Dementia), Associazione Nazionale Famiglie di Persone con Disabilitá Affettiva e/o Relazionale (ANFFAS) Trentino Onlus, Trient, Italy.
authors.forename: Tiziano
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Gomiero
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Gastone
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Castellani
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; Interdepartmental Centre "L. Galvani" - CIG, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy; IRCCS Institute of Neurological Sciences, Bologna, Italy; National Research Council of Italy, CNR, Institute for Organic Synthesis and Photoreactivity (ISOF), Bologna, Italy; National Research Council of Italy, CNR, Institute of Molecular Genetics, Unit of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Claudio
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Franceschi
mesh_terms: D000222:Adaptation, Physiological / Q000502:physiology*; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological / Q000502:physiology*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001057:Apolipoproteins E / Q000235:genetics; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001057:Apolipoproteins E