UC Irvine

Introduction

Adults with Down syndrome (DS) are at high risk for early onset Alzheimer's disease (AD), characterized by a progressive decline in multiple cognitive domains including language, which can impact social interactions, behavior, and quality of life. This cross-sectional study examined the relationship between language skills and dementia.

Methods

A total of 168 adults with DS (mean age = 51.4 years) received neuropsychological assessments, including Vineland Communication Domain, McCarthy Verbal Fluency, and Boston Naming Test, and were categorized in one of three clinical groups: cognitively stable (CS, 57.8%); mild cognitive impairment (MCI-DS, 22.6%); and probable/definite dementia (AD-DS, 19.6%). Logistic regression was used to determine how well language measures predict group status.

Results

Vineland Communication, particularly receptive language, was a significant predictor of MCI-DS. Semantic verbal fluency was the strongest predictor of AD-DS.

Discussion

Assessment of language skills can aid in the identification of dementia in adults with DS. Clinically, indications of emerging language problems should warrant further evaluation and monitoring.