Aging in Adults with Down Syndrome

描述（由申请人提供）：这项拟议的研究通过收集1988年至2000年研究的样本的额外数据，探讨了环境影响，如家庭因素和主要生活转变，对21年（1988-2009）唐氏综合症（DS）成年人衰老的影响。在具体目标1中，研究者建议描述先前的家庭环境特征（1988-2000）与成年退行性痴呆患者的健康、功能能力和行为问题的后期生活结果（2009）之间的关系；在专项目标2中，研究了21年间（1988-2009年）成年退行性痴呆患者所经历的重大生活转变的患病率、前因和后果；在专项目标3中，研究了老年退行性痴呆患者未来规划的实施和影响。考虑到与几十年前相比，患有退行性痴呆的人现在可以享受更长的预期寿命，并且有证据表明成人退行性痴呆患者的衰老存在异质性，有必要了解导致这种衰老异质性的因素。这项拟议的研究基于一项对461个共同居住的智力残疾成年人家庭的研究项目。Marsha Seltzer和Marty Krauss (R01AG08768)，其中包括169个成年DS患者家庭，其中126个仍然活着。因此，研究人员处于一个独特的位置来研究家庭环境与老年退行性痴呆成年人的关系。目前幸存的成人退行性椎体滑移患者年龄在35-68岁之间，他们是本研究的重点。受访者将从以前参与研究的家庭中招募，并将参加家庭访谈并完成自我管理的措施。这项为期21年的研究将有可能阐明环境对成年退行性痴呆患者中年和老年早期功能的影响。

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.