Alzheimer’s Disease and Down Syndrome Funding Discussion on Senate Floor

Senator Jerry Moran questions NIH about funding for Down syndrome research during Senate Appropriations Hearing on Alzheimer’s disease research.

Study describes Relationship between Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Cognitive Outcomes

Disrupted sleep is commonly observed throughout the lifespan of individuals with Down syndrome, with an observed incidence of 50-100%. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome(OSAS) has been demonstrated in studies to be a key contributor to the loss of sleep quality in Down syndrome. OSAS increases with age.

The relation of OSAS to cognitive and behavioral impairment remains poorly understood. This study, supported in part by a Research Down Syndrome grant, describes cognitive outcomes in children with or without OSAS, ages 7-12. The study assessed cognitive outcomes with the Arizona Cognitive Test Battery, a set of psychometric measures that was designed and validated for this group.

The findings demonstrated a relation between OSAS and cognitive outcomes in Down syndrome. Among children with Down syndrome, mean Verbal IQ score was 9 points lower in those with OSAS than in those without OSAS. Performance on measures of cognitive flexibility was poorer, as well. 

The paper, published in Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, may be found here.

For a person with Down syndrome, quality of life equals independence and inclusion

LuMind Foundation is dedicated to making this a reality for the hundreds of thousands affected by finding treatments to improve cognition including learning, memory and speech for people with Down syndrome. We are the leading private source of funding in the United States for Down syndrome cognition research. Read about our results.

We operate under the conviction that anything is possible when innovation, creativity, and motivation are applied toward an imperative end result. And for us that result will be a better quality of life for the over 250,000 people with Down syndrome through improved memory, learning, and speech.

This isn’t just a distant dream — it’s a near-term reality. Through the funding we provide to the institutions and talent that are pushing the boundaries of cognition research, a more welcoming world lies ahead for people with Down syndrome. We are honored to be opening the door.