High Rates of Dementia, Alzheimer's Observed Among Older People With Down Syndrome

A study in JAMA Neurology of Wisconsin Medicaid enrollees with Down syndrome found over half of those 55 and older have filed at least three claims for dementia and nearly one-third have filed at least three claims for Alzheimer's, reports ScienceDaily . Among enrollees ages 40 to 54, 18.8 percent had filed dementia claims, and there was a 40 percent likelihood that a person with Down syndrome 40 to 54 years old would file a dementia claim over the next 11 years, while a person with Down syndrome 55 or older had a 67 percent chance of filing such a claim. Men and women with Down syndrome who were younger than 40 had a roughly equal probability of dementia. But from 40 to 54, dementia was 23 percent more likely in women. The investigators said population studies are needed to detect when dementia symptoms appear, so families and healthcare systems can plan care for people with Down syndrome as they get older.