# DEMENTIA IN DOWN SYNDROME--LONGITUDINAL EVALUATION

> **NIH NIH R01** · INSTITUTE FOR BASIC RES IN DEV DISABIL · 1992 · $66,609

## Abstract

The overall goal of this project is to develop a deeper and more
comprehensive description and understanding of the natural history and
course of dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) in severely retarded adults
with and without Down syndrome (DS).  The development of useful diagnostic
procedures for dementia in severely retarded persons will facilitate proper
planning of care and improve the quality of life for affected persons.  It
will also reduce the likelihood of costly errors n diagnosis, treatment and
management.

The specific aims are: (1) to develop improved methods for the assessment
of DAT, (2) to evaluate the psychometric properties of experimental tests
of learning, memory and movement-related disorders, (3) to clarify the
inconsistencies between longitudinal and retrospective studies.

A five-year longitudinal program of research is proposed in which severely
retarded adults, varying in age and diagnosis (with DS and without DS),
will be evaluated annually.  A visual matching-to-sample recognition test,
specifically developed for severely retarded persons, will be used as a
standard to define clinical status of the participants.  A Visual
Recognition Span Test, a Table-Top Spatial Location Test, a Large Field
Spatial Location Test and a three-part test of movement-related disorders
will be evaluated against this standard.  A neurological examination will
be conducted concurrently with the other examinations to document pre-
existing and other relevant clinical conditions affecting the participants.
Neuropathological studies will be performed, where possible, during the
project period to provide post-mortem confirmation of diagnosis of
Alzheimer disease.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 3120630
- **Project number:** 5R01AG008849-02
- **Recipient organization:** INSTITUTE FOR BASIC RES IN DEV DISABIL
- **SAM.gov UEI:** LKEPMM3KKF27
- **Principal Investigator:** ARTHUR DALTON
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 1992
- **Award amount:** $66,609
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1991-02-01 → 1996-01-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/3120630

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 3120630, DEMENTIA IN DOWN SYNDROME--LONGITUDINAL EVALUATION (5R01AG008849-02). Retrieved via MORVS 2026-10-25 from https://api.morvs.ai/grant/nih/3120630. Licensed CC0.

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