Brain scan identifies signs of Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down syndrome
By Linda Nelson, Ph.D., Principal Investigator, UCLA

	[Fig.] Nelson LD, Siddarth P, Kepe V, Scheibel KE, Huang S-C, Barrio JR, Small GW © 2011
	PET of brain amyloid and tau in adults with Down syndrome. Archives of Neurology, 68(6), 768-774: "Strong age effects on [F-18]FDDNP PET binding levels by brain region were demonstrated in DS subjects: frontal, rs = .46, p = .04; parietal, rs = .57, p = .009; medial temporal, rs = .43. p = .05; and lateral temporal, rs = .72, p = .0003. [F-18]FDDNP PET binding levels in posterior cingulate were not significantly associated with age.

In one of the first studies of its kind, UCLA researchers used a unique brain scan to assess the levels of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles – the hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease – in adults with Down syndrome.

Published in the June edition of the Archives of Neurology, the finding may offer an additional clinical tool to help diagnose dementia in adults with Down syndrome, a genetic disorder caused by the presence of a complete or partial extra copy of chromosome 21.

Adults with this disorder develop Alzheimer's-like plaque and tangle deposits early, often before the age of 40. Previously the only way to physically detect these abnormal proteins in this population was through autopsy.

Over the last decade, UCLA researchers have created a chemical marker called PET-FDDNP that binds to both plaque and tangle deposits. This provides a "window into the brain" to measure the major signs of Alzheimer's disease. This method helps us better understand where, in the brain, Alzheimer's begins and what brain areas are most affected as the disease progresses.

"People with Down syndrome are teaching us a great deal about Alzheimer's disease," said the study's lead author and principal investigator of Down syndrome research at UCLA, Dr. Linda Nelson. Dr. Nelson is a professor in the Department of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences at UCLA.

"For the first time, we are able to document evidence of Alzheimer's disease in vivo (while they are still alive) using this PET procedure. Research up to this point has been only post-mortem."

"We have found a means of identifying the signs of Alzheimer's disease in people with Down syndrome while they are still young, before they show symptoms of dementia."

"Studies are underway at UCLA that will extend this work, by tracking the course of this disease over time in this group of individuals with Down syndrome."

This study is based in northern and southern California and was supported by the National Down Syndrome Society and the UCLA Academic Senate.

Additional UCLA authors on this publication are Jorge Barrio, Vladimir Kepe, Prabha Siddarth, Kevin Scheibel, S.C. Huang, and Gary Small.

For more information, contact Dr. Nelson at lnelson@mednet.ucla.edu. Put "Saw it in ARC" in the subject line.

At Pepperdine: Dr. Nelson will be teaching Cognitive Assessment (601.20) Summer semester II at Pepperdine University. If questions, contact her at Info@LAneuropsych.com.

At UCLA: Dr. Nelson will be teaching Psychiatry 99 and 199 (3 credits) at UCLA again Fall quarter for UCLA undergraduate level students (upper and lower division) and graduate students interested in learning research procedures. Average enrollment for students is one to two years. Enrollment is full at this time, but interested students should e-mail Dr. Nelson at lnelson@mednet.ucla.edu regarding future openings.