THE ROLE OF MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF ALZHEIMER-DISEASE IN ADULTS WITH DOWN-SYNDROME

Objective: To correlate findings from magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with neuropathological analysis and clinical assessment of Alzheimer disease in patients with Down syndrome. Design and Methods: Case study of 1 elderly man with trisomy 21 and Alzheimer disease who had been f ollowed up prospectively over a 5-year period. The patient was a resid ent in a supervised community unit and died with end-stage dementia. T he MRI changes were correlated with the results of clinical psychopath ological analysis and neuropathological brain tissue findings. To our knowledge, this is the first case in which clinical, MRI, and neuropat hological data were available in a case involving an elderly patient w ith Down syndrome and Alzheimer disease. Results: The MRI findings cor related with the clinical deterioration and neuropathological features of Alzheimer disease. Marked changes in temporal and hippocampal regi ons were found. Conclusion: Magnetic resonance imaging is potentially a valuable tool in the diagnosis of Alzheimer disease in adults with D own syndrome, particularly in individuals for whom standard intellectu al assessments are not possible.