Alzheimer-like Dementia in Down's Syndrome
- Incidence of Down syndrome: 1:800
- Most common genetic cause of dementia
- May be related to presence of APP (amyloid precursor protein) gene
- Overall, brain volume is reduced in Down's.
- Clinically and histologically, Down's shows findings nearly identical to Alzheimer's except that onset is earlier (more than 50% of Down's patients will have dementia by 40-50 years of age). Dementia is responsible for high death rates in Down's individuals after 45 years of age.
