A £1 million study has been launched to investigate why people with Down’s syndrome are at high risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

The brain-imaging study is being carried out by Cambridge University researchers as the syndrome is one of the few disorders in which sufferers can expect the early onset of dementia to develop.

Prof Tony Holland, of the Cambridge Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities Research Group, who is leading the research, said: “Almost 100 per cent of people with Down’s syndrome develop pathological signs of Alzheimer’s, and clinical symptoms are seen in Down’s syndrome around 40 years earlier than in the general population.”

The research team is looking for individuals with the syndrome to volunteer to take part in the study and has produced a short film at www.

youtube.com/user/downsproject to explain the testing process.

Prof Holland said: “People with Down’s syndrome are living longer lives but this can be a poisoned chalice, as with this comes a real risk of Alzheimer’s. Now we need volunteers to come forward to help us explore what is happening to the brain.”

Contact Liam at lrw34@medschl.cam.ac.uk.

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