Aging

and Down syndrome Study

at the University of Kentucky
Donna M Wilcock PhD

Aging and Down Syndrome Research Study

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY

Who are we asking to parDcipate?

Persons with Down syndrome
age 25 and older and their
family member or caregiver.

We would like to recruit
80-100 people (we have
over 40 so far!)

We see everyone once a year

Thinking and Behavioral Measures

Severe Impairment BaVery
Fuld Object Memory Test
Peabody Picture Vocabulary
Test
Brief Praxis Test
Reiss Screen
Neuropsychiatric Inventory
QuesDons
AdapDve Behavior
Assessment System II

Why are we doing brain imaging?

We can measure connections

in the brain by MRI

David Powell and one of our study volunteers

Blood samples
Check for overall health.

Allow our researchers to
look for biomarkers to
predict imminent cogniDve
decline or ecacy of
potenDal therapies.

What we have learned so far from

our study

Our research parDcipants are

amazing!!

SophisDcated MRI imaging

methods allow us to examine the
connecDvity of the brain

Brain connecDons are changed in persons

with Down syndrome

Blue: Reduced integrity of nondemented adults with DS vs non-DS controls.

Powell et al, Neurobiol Aging
Green: Reduced integrity in demented adults with DS vs nondemented adults with DS
Red: Reduced integrity in adults with DS that correlates with the performance in a cognitive task 2014

The decrease in connecDvity

correlates with impaired funcDon
0.65
DS
DSAD per DMR cutpoints

Mean FA (DTI)

0.60

0.55

DMR is an informant
based measure of
function

0.50

0.45

0.40

0.35
0

10

20

30

DMR Total

40

50

60

70

IL
1B

IL
TN 6
Fa
IL
C -12
H
I3
I L L1
-1
R
M a
R
C
1
IL
-1
C 0
FC D8
G 6
R
1
TG B
FB

*
** **
*

*
AD >67

*
**

**
*

**

**

**

AD >67

**

9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
0

M1
M2a
M2b
M2c

1B

1B

IL
TN 6
Fa
IL
C -12
H
I3
I L L1
-1
R
M a
R
C
1
IL
-1
C 0
FC D8
G 6
R
1
TG B
FB

IL

IL

1B

Fold change vs. a

IL
TN 6
Fa
IL
C -12
H
I3
I L L1
-1
R
M a
R
C
1
IL
-1
C 0
FC D8
G 6
R
1
TG B
FB

M1
M2a
M2b
M2c

IL
TN 6
Fa
IL
C -12
H
I3
I L L1
-1
R
M a
R
C
1
IL
-1
C 0
FC D8
G 6
R
1
TG B
FB

M1
M2a
M2b
M2c

1B

Fold change vs. age-matched controls

** ** ** **

IL

**

IL
TN 6
Fa
IL
C -12
H
I3
I L L1
-1
R
M a
R
C
1
IL
-1
C 0
FC D8
G 6
R
1
TG B
FB

IL

9
8
7
6
5
47
3
6
2
15
04

IL
TN 6
Fa
IL
C -12
H
I3
I L L1
-1
R
M a
R
C
1
IL
-1
C 0
FC D8
G 6
R
1
TG B
FB

1B

The inammatory response of the

*
brain
i*s dierent, and more
DS with AD >40
pronounced
in adults with DS and AD
**

ntrols

IL

age-matched controls
change vs.
age-matched controls
Fold change vs.Fold
age-matched
controls
Fold change vs.Fol
ag
4
3
2
1
0

**

*
**

** **

AD >67

DS with AD >40

** ** ** **

*
*

Imaging shows that increased

inammaDon decreases neuronal
health

Our team and contact informa/on

The Aging & Down Syndrome (ADS)
study is being led by Elizabeth Head
and Frederick SchmiV and is funded
by the Department of Health and
Human Services, NaDonal InsDtutes
of Health and the Eunice Kennedy
Shriver NaDonal InsDtute of Child
Health & Human Development.

For information contact

Roberta Davis
rdavi3@uky.edu
859-218-3865

http://www.uky.edu/DSAging/

Our team at Sanders-Brown

Erin Abner
Allison Caban-Holt
Roberta Davis
Brian Gold
Elizabeth Head
Gregory Jicha

Ai-Ling Lin
David Powell
William Robertson
Frederick SchmiV
Donna Wilcock

Thanks to the funding agencies for

making these studies possible

Many thanks to our volunteers!