Selective Attention Deficits Associated with Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Stage Alzheimer's Disease in Adults with Down Syndrome

• Published in: American journal of mental retardation Vol. 113; no. 5; pp. 369 - 386
• Main Authors: Krinsky-McHale, Sharon J, Devenny, Darlynne A, Kittler, Phyllis, Silverman, Wayne
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Association on Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 01-09-2008
• Subjects: Adults; Aged; Alzheimer Disease - diagnosis; Alzheimer Disease - drug therapy; Alzheimer Disease - epidemiology; Alzheimers Disease; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - diagnosis; Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity - epidemiology; Attention Span; Cholinesterase Inhibitors - therapeutic use; Cognition Disorders - diagnosis; Cognition Disorders - epidemiology; Cognitive Ability; Dementia; Down Syndrome; Down Syndrome - diagnosis; Down Syndrome - epidemiology; Evaluation Methods; Female; Humans; Male; Memory; Memory Disorders - diagnosis; Memory Disorders - epidemiology; Middle Aged; Neurological Impairments; Neuropsychological Tests; Prevalence; Severity of Illness Index
• ISSN: 0895-8017
• DOI: 10.1352/2008.113:369-386

Adults with Down syndrome and early stage Alzheimer's disease showed decline in their ability to selectively attend to stimuli in a multitrial cancellation task. They also showed variability in their performance over the test trials, whereas healthy participants showed stability. These changes in performance were observed approximately 2 years prior to a physician's diagnosis of possible Alzheimer's disease, which was made when they were exhibiting declines in episodic memory suggestive of mild cognitive impairment. Performance on this task varied with the evolution of dementia, showed modestly good sensitivity and specificity, and was relatively easy to administer. Given these qualities this task could be a valuable addition to a neuropsychological battery intended for the assessment of mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down syndrome.