Population Health Research Brief Series

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease is much more common among adults with than without Down syndrome. While an estimated 11.3% of adults in the general population over age 65 have Alzheimer's disease, nearly all adults with Down syndrome have Alzheimer's neuropathology by age 40, and half develop Alzheimer's disease by age 60. However, CDC guidelines for completing death certificates hide the actual Alzheimer's disease mortality burden among adults with Down syndrome. This brief summarizes results from a recent study seeking to accurately measure the disparity in the Alzheimer's disease mortality burden between adults with versus without Down syndrome for the years 2005-2019.