The Association between Sex and Risk of Alzheimer’s Disease in Adults with Down Syndrome

Abstract

Background: Sex differences in the risk of Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) in adults with Down Syndrome (DS) have not been extensively investigated, and existing studies have found conflicting results. This study examined the effect of sex on the risk of AD in adults with DS, adjusted for covariates. Methods: Adults with DS were assessed longitudinally for the development of AD. Competing risk survival analyses were used to determine the effect of sex alone and after adjustment for APOE-ε4 status, ethnicity, and level of intellectual disability (ID). Results: Sex differences were significant only in adults over 60 years of age, where men with DS were 6.32 (95% CI: 2.11–18.96, p APOE-ε4 status, ethnicity, and level of ID.

Keywords

• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Down Syndrome
• sex difference
• <i>APOE4</i>