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年研究样本的额外数据，研究了环境影响，如家庭因素和重大人生转变，在21年的时间跨度(1988-2009)内对唐氏综合症(DS)成年人衰老的影响。研究人员建议，在具体目标1中，描述既往家庭环境特征(1988-2000年)与成年DS患者的健康、功能能力和行为问题的未来生活结果(2009)之间的关系；在特定目标2中，描述患有DS的成年人在21年间(1988-2009年)经历的重大生活转变的患病率、先兆和后果；以及在特定目标3中，针对患有DS的老年成年人实施未来规划和影响。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，而且有证据表明患有DS的成年人在衰老方面存在异质性，因此有必要了解导致这种老龄化异质性的因素。这项拟议的研究建立在一个由玛莎·塞尔策博士和马蒂·克劳斯博士(R01AG08768)进行的一个由461个智力残疾成年人家庭共同居住的项目基础上，其中包括169个患有DS的成年人家庭，其中126人仍然健在。因此，研究人员处于一个独特的位置来研究家庭环境与成年DS患者年龄增长的关联。存活的患有DS的成年人现在年龄在35-68岁之间，这是这项拟议研究的重点。受访者将从之前参与研究的家庭中招募，并将参与家庭访谈和完成自我管理措施。这项拟议研究的时间跨度为21年，将有可能阐明环境对患有DS的成年人在中年和老年早期的功能影响。 叙述：该项目将提供21年时间跨度(1988-2009年)的有关唐氏综合症成人衰老的重要数据，以及对环境影响对他们衰老的影响的洞察。鉴于最近推动唐氏综合症患者生命周期的纵向研究，以及了解唐氏综合症患者一生中功能的环境决定因素的倡议，这些数据尤其及时。

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.