Alzheimer’s & Dementia: The Alzheimer's Biomarker Consortium–Down Syndrome (ABC‐DS): A 10‐year Report
Over 90% of adults with Down syndrome will be diagnosed with clinical dementia/Alzheimer's disease by their mid-60s. The National Institute on Aging/National Institute of Child Health and Human Development-funded Alzheimer's Biomarker Consortium – Down Syndrome (ABC‐DS) has been studying Alzheimer’s disease in adults with Down syndrome since 2015. A recent paper in Alzheimer’s & Dementia describes the ABC‐DS methodology and highlights achievements and updates since the consortium was initially funded. Benjamin Handen, PhD (Professor of Psychiatry and Pediatrics), is principal investigator of the lead ABC-DS site at the University of Pittsburgh.
During the last decade, more than 500 adults with Down syndrome and 59 sibling controls have been enrolled in ABC-DS, with more than 900 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), 800 amyloid positron emission tomography (PET), and 600 tau PET scans conducted. In addition, multiple omics data have been generated using over 1,100 blood and 100 cerebrospinal fluid samples. The scientific impact of ABC-DS investigators’ research includes the establishment of valid measures to detect mild cognitive impairment in Down syndrome/Alzheimer’s disease; discovery of a relatively short timeline to symptomatic Alzheimer’s disease in Down syndrome; advances in our understanding of biomarkers and Alzheimer’s progression in Down syndrome; and the identification of novel genes associated with Alzheimer’s.
“We are especially gratified that the work accomplished by ABC-DS has significantly influenced the proposed design and outcome measures of the first Alzheimer’s prevention trials in Down syndrome,” said Dr. Handen, corresponding author of the recent paper in Alzheimer's & Dementia.
The Alzheimer's Biomarker Consortium–Down Syndrome (ABC‐DS): A 10‐year Report
Handen BL, Mapstone M, Hartley S, Andrews H, Christian B, Lee JH, Tudorascu D, Hom C, Ances BM, Zaman S, Krinsky-McHale S, Brickman AM, Rosas HD, Cohen A, Petersen M, O’Bryant S, Harp JP, Schmitt F, Ptomey L, Burns J, Lott IT, Lai F, Silverman W, Laymon C, Head E, the Alzheimer's Biomarker Consortium – Down Syndrome (ABC‐DS).
Alzheimer's & Dementia. 2025; 21:e70294. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70294