Biomarkers.

Background: By age 40 years, adults with Down syndrome (DS) develop Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and progress to dementia in their 60s. Despite minimal systemic vascular risk factors, individuals with DS have MRI evidence of cerebrovascular injury that progresses with AD severity, suggesting an intrinsic vascular component to DS-AD that may interact with neuroinflammatory processes to promote tau pathology and cognitive decline. In the current study we examined whether cerebrovascular disease (CVD) burden and inflammation/astrocytosis independently and interactively were associated with incident diagnosis among adults with DS.

Biomarkers.

Background: Adults with Down syndrome (DS) overproduce amyloid precursor protein, develop amyloid plaques at an early age, and are diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease (AD) dementia at a high frequency. There is emerging evidence that cerebrovascular disease is elevated across the AD continuum in older adults with DS, independent of age and vascular risk, around the same time as amyloid and tau, but the regional rates of accumulation within individuals are unknown.

Method: Adults with DS from the multisite Alzheimer's Biomarker Consortium-Down Syndrome study (ABC-DS; n=78; age=50±6; 40% women) have two timepoints of T2 FLAIR MRI (1.

Biomarkers.

Background: CADASIL, linked to NOTCH3 variants, is a primary monogenic cause of vascular dementia, leading to vascular cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) observable in early stages. The NIH-funded USA CADASIL Consortium aims to explore CADASIL's onset and progression in the USA, crucial due to varying phenotype-genotype associations globally. The consortium will identify biological and clinical markers across the disease spectrum, contributing to clinical trial preparations.

Public Health.

Background: High blood pressure (BP) level and variability has been linked to stroke, cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), cognitive decline, and dementia. However, it is unclear whether sex/gender influences the association of BP level and variability with CSVD. Therefore, we aimed to examine sex-differences in the association of CSVD with 24-h BP level and variability.

Public Health.

Background: Cognitive impairment is associated with mortality. However, evidence using population-based studies is scarce, is limited to one cognitive assessment, and lacks the inclusion of non-fatal adverse health outcomes. Therefore, we aimed this study to (i) investigate the association of cognitive function with mortality and cardiovascular risk and (ii) determine whether cognitive tests improve the risk-stratification of endpoints beyond conventional risk factors.