The link between Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome

by Maureen Wallace from She Know's: Parenting:
Throughout my life, I've feared I would one day develop Alzheimer's disease. I never expected I'd have a child with Down syndrome whose chances of developing Alzheimer's (AD) surpassed mine.

Individuals with Down syndrome have increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease and related dementia. The idea terrifies me. If I'm worried I won't be able to take care of myself in my old age, what makes me think I will be able to care for my son?
My 3-year-old son, Charlie, has Down syndrome (Ds), which means while most people have 46 chromosomes, he has 47 — thanks to a third copy of the 21st chromosome.
The 21st chromosome. Remember that.

Research Down Syndrome Has Race Entries Available for the NYC Half Marathon

from Research Down Syndrome:
Research Down Syndrome (RDS) is again partnering with the NYC Half Marathon being held in New York City on March 17. RDS is a national 501(c)(3) charity that is a leading provider of grants to support research to develop pharmaceutical therapies to improve memory and learning in persons with Down syndrome. RDS Runners, the charity race program supporting Down syndrome research, expects a team of twenty to participate in the NYC Half Marathon.
A few charity slots remain to register for the race and join the team. As the registration lottery has already occurred, these entries remain the only means by which to register for the race. RDS encourages interested runners to join the RDS team and support Down syndrome research.
For more information on how to run for RDS and register for the NYC Half, contact RDS Runners at rdsrunners@researchds.org.
About Research Down Syndrome
Research Down Syndrome (RDS) is among the leading sources of private funding for Down syndrome related cognitive research. RDS supports and funds Down syndrome cognitive research conducted at leading research institutions that are studying the basis of the intellectual impairments associated with Down syndrome, including Alzheimer's disease. Research Down Syndrome is a legal corporate entity, and is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization designated by the Internal Revenue Code. For more information, go to http://www.researchds.org, or contact RDS: info (at) researchds (dot) org or 847.710.2251.

Research Down Syndrome Announces 2012/2013 Grant Awards to Fund Down Syndrome Cognitive Research

by Research Down Syndrome:

Research Down Syndrome (RDS) has announced funding for six grants to support Down syndrome cognitive research. The grant total represents a fifty percent increase over grants awarded by RDS in 2011.

RDS is committed to supporting the identification of the causes of the intellectual impairments associated with Down syndrome and to facilitating the development of pharmacological therapies to improve memory, learning and communication in persons with Down syndrome. Encouraging progress has been made over a very short time. A human clinical trial was initiated in the fall of 2011, less than a decade after the support of private foundations stimulated the progress of Down syndrome cognitive research.

Research Down Syndrome, among the leading sources of private funding for Down syndrome related cognitive research, prioritizes funding towards programs with a high probability of readily contributing to the development of safe and effective therapies.  Continued private donations are needed to support the constantly expanding research efforts that will lead to potential medical treatments. The 2012/2013 RDS Research Grants include:

1. Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine:  RDS Research Center Grant entitled "A Down Syndrome Virtual Center for Basic and Translational Studies- Cognition and Therapies in Down Syndrome"    
2. University of California, San Diego School of Medicine:  RDS Research Center Grant entitled "Defining the Genes and Mechanisms Causing Neurodegeneration in Down Syndrome and Discovering Effective Treatments" - Pilot Proposal entitled "21Lab: A Collaborative Data Sharing and Data Integration Platform for the Down Syndrome Research Community"
3. University of Arizona:  RDS Innovation Research Grant entitled "The Neuropsychology of Down Syndrome"
4. Stanford University School of Medicine: RDS Innovation Research Grant entitled "Mechanisms Underlying the Roles of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in the Learning Disability of Down Syndrome"
5. VA Palo Alto Health Care System: RDS Innovation Research Pilot Grant entitled "Improving Adrenergic Signaling for the Treatment of cognitive Dysfunction in Down Syndrome"
6. University of Texas, Austin:  RDS Innovation Research Pilot Grant entitled "Genetic Analysis of Excessive Inhibitory Signaling in Down Syndrome"

Detailed information on these grants can be found at: www.researchds.org

 

About Research Down Syndrome

Research Down Syndrome (RDS) is among the leading sources of private funding for Down syndrome related cognitive research.  RDS supports and funds Down syndrome cognitive research conducted at research institutions that are studying the basis of the intellectual impairments associated with Down syndrome, including Alzheimer's disease. Research Down Syndrome is a legal corporate entity, and is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization designated by the Internal Revenue Code.  For more information, go to www.researchds.org, or contact RDS:  info@researchds.org or 847.710.2251.

SOURCE Research Down Syndrome

Read more here: http://www.sacbee.com/2012/10/08/4892505/research-down-syndrome-announces.html#storylink=cpy

Research Down Syndrome enters second year of national running program

from News Medical:

Research Down Syndrome (RDS), a nonprofit foundation that is among the leading sources for funding of Down syndrome related cognitive research, is entering the second year of its national running program, Race for the Extraordinary, to help increase public awareness and funding for Down syndrome research.  The mission of RDS is the development of safe and effective therapies to address the intellectual difficulties associated with Down syndrome.
 
Building on successful marathon and other race events during 2011 in major cities, including New York City, Chicago and San Diego, RDS is expanding its running program to greatly increase its research funding, and has been accepted as a charity partner in multiple marathons across the country. Shorter fun races are being organized as well.  "We are grateful for the enthusiastic support we received in events during 2011," states Dr. Robert Schoen, RDS President, "Our goal is to support persons with Down syndrome by significantly increasing our fundraising in 2012."

Advances in Down syndrome research have led to such progress as the recent initiation by Roche Pharmaceuticals of a Phase 1 clinical trial to investigate the safety and tolerability of a molecule designed to address the cognitive and behavioral deficits associated with Down syndrome. The RDS Race for the Extraordinary initiative will add increased support for such research.

In recent decades, improved health care, expanded education and community opportunities, and the support of families and advocacy groups has improved the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome.  As a result, Dr. Schoen notes, "Over the past 30 years, the life expectancy of those with Down syndrome has more than doubled -- underscoring the importance of development of treatments that will assist this population to achieve and maintain independent living."