Aging in Adults with Down Syndrome

描述（由申请人提供）：拟议的研究通过从1988年至2000年研究的样本中收集额外数据，在21年的时间跨度（1988-2009年）内检查环境影响（如家庭因素和主要生活转变）对唐氏综合征（DS）成年人衰老的影响。 研究者建议在具体目标1中描述先前家庭环境特征之间的关联（1988-2000年）关于成年DS患者的健康、功能能力和行为问题的晚年结局（2009年）;在具体目标2中，以及成年DS患者在21年期间经历的主要生活转变的后果（1988-2009年），并在具体目标3，实施和未来规划的影响，老年人与DS。 鉴于与几十年前相比，患有DS的个体现在可以享受更长的预期寿命，并且有证据表明患有DS的成年人中存在老化异质性，因此需要了解导致这种老化异质性的因素。 这项拟议的研究是基于一个由玛莎·萨尔茨和马蒂·克劳斯博士（R 01 AG 08768）进行的461个共同居住的智力残疾成年人家庭的项目，其中包括169个DS成年人家庭，其中126个仍然活着。 因此，研究人员处于一个独特的位置，以检查家庭环境与成年DS患者衰老的关系。 存活的成年DS患者年龄在35-68岁之间，是这项拟议研究的重点。 受访者将从以前参与研究的家庭中招募，并将参加家庭访谈和完成自我管理的措施。 拟议的研究的21年的时间跨度将有可能阐明环境对中年和老年早期DS成人功能的影响。 说明：该项目将提供21年时间跨度（1988-2009年）有关唐氏综合征成年人衰老的重要数据，并深入了解环境影响对他们衰老的影响。 这些数据是特别及时的，因为最近采取了一些举措，以促进对唐氏综合症患者整个生命周期的纵向研究，并了解唐氏综合症患者整个生命周期的环境决定因素。

DESCRIPTION (Provided by Applicant): The proposed study examines the impact of environmental influences, such as family factors and major life transitions, on the aging of adults with Down syndrome (DS) across a 21-year time span (1988-2009) by collecting additional data from a sample that was studied from 1988 to 2000. The investigators propose to delineate, in Specific Aim 1, the association of characteristics of the prior family environment (1988-2000) on later life outcomes (2009) of health, functional abilities, and behavior problems among adults with DS; in Specific Aim 2, the prevalence, antecedents, and consequences of major life transitions as experienced by adults with DS over a 21-year period (from 1988-2009), and in Specific Aim 3, the implementation and impact of future planning for aging adults with DS. Given that individuals with DS can now enjoy substantially longer life expectancies as compared to a few decades ago, and there is evidence of heterogeneity in aging among adults with DS, there is a need to understand the factors that contribute to this heterogeneity in aging. The proposed study builds from a project of 461 co-residing families of adults with intellectual disability, conducted by Drs. Marsha Seltzer and Marty Krauss (R01AG08768), which included 169 families of adults with DS, of whom 126 are still alive. As a result, the investigators are in a unique position to examine the association of the family environment with the aging of adults with DS. The surviving adults with DS are now age 35-68, and are the focus of this proposed study. Respondents will be recruited from families that previously participated in the study, and will participate in home interviews and complete self-administered measures. The 21-year time span of the proposed study will make it possible to elucidate environmental influences on the functioning of adults with DS in midlife and the early years of old age. NARRATIVE: This project will provide important data over a 21-year time span (1988-2009) regarding the aging of adults with Down syndrome, as well as yielding insights into the impact of environmental influences on their aging. Such data are particularly timely in light of recent initiatives to promote longitudinal research across the lifespan of individuals with Down syndrome, and to understand environmental determinants of functioning in Down syndrome throughout the lifespan.