Table 1.
Clinical studies addressing sex differences in dementia in Down syndrome.
| References |
Sample
(age in years) (Female/Male) |
Title | Source | Findings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mhatre et al. (2021) | 408 DS adults (age cog. stable: 49.2 ± 6.5; age dementia: 53.5 ± 5.2) (267 F/141 M) |
The association between sex and risk of Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down syndrome | Journal of Clinical Medicine | Increased risk of AD observed in men with DS over the age of 60 |
| Lai et al. (2020) | 246 DS adults (age > 40) (95 F/151 M) |
Sex differences in risk of Alzheimer's disease in adults with Down syndrome | Alzheimer's and dementia (Amst) | No link between sex and risk of AD; women with DS had longer duration of dementia |
| Landes et al. (2020) | 9,870 DS adults (age > 18) (48.45% F) |
Cause of death in adults with Down syndrome in the United States | Disabil Health J | Women with DS more likely to die due to dementia/AD and congenital heart defects |
| Startin et al. (2020) | 602 DS adults (age 3 months−73 years) (288 F/314 M) |
Health comorbidities and cognitive abilities across the lifespan in Down syndrome | J Neurodev Disord | Women with DS showed higher rates of dementia and autism; men with DS had higher rates of depression; both compared to general population |
| Zhao et al. (2015) | 249 DS women (age 31–70) |
Estrogen receptor-beta variants are associated with increased risk of Alzheimer's disease in women with down syndrome | Dementia and geriatric cognitive disorders | 2-fold AD risk in post-menopausal women with DS carrying specific SNPs in ESR2 |
| Coppus et al. (2010) | 85 post-menopausal DS women (age > 45) |
Early age at menopause is associated with increased risk of dementia and mortality in women with Down syndrome | Journal of Alzheimer's Disease | Women with DS experience menopause early, which is associated with increased risk of AD |
| Schupf et al. (2006) | 119 post-menopausal DS women (age 42–59) |
Bioavailable estradiol and age at onset of Alzheimer's disease in post-menopausal women with Down syndrome | Neuroscience Letters | Women with low levels of bioavailable estradiol are more likely to develop AD and to develop it earlier |
| Lai et al. (1999) | 100 DS adults (age 35–79) |
APOE genotype and gender effects on Alzheimer disease in 100 adults with Down syndrome | American Academy of Neurology | Women were 1.77 times more likely to develop dementia; no association between sex and APOE |
| Schupf et al. (1998) | 111 DS adults (age 34–71) (50 F/61 M) |
Earlier onset of Alzheimer's disease in men with Down syndrome | Neurology | Male carriers of APOE4 had earlier onset of AD |
| Raghavan et al. (1994) | 28 DS adults (age 10–74) (11 F/17 M) |
Gender differences in the phenotypic expression of Alzheimer's disease in Down's syndrome (trisomy 21). | Neuroreport | Women with DS had higher NFT burden; No significant difference in Aβ plaque burden |