PREMATURE AGING IN PERSONS WITH DOWN-SYNDROME - MR FINDINGS

PURPOSE: To determine whether persons with Down syndrome have features of premature aging on routine MR imaging sequences, METHODS: Sixty MR studies (in 30 persons with Down syndrome and 30 age- and sex-matched control subjects) were reviewed retrospectively by two blinded examin ers, Sagittal T1-weighted and axial T2-weighted spin-echo images were evaluated for the presence and severity of three markers of brain agin g: atrophy, while matter lesions, and 72 hypointensity of the basal ga ng]ia, referenced to the examiner's internal standard of normal for th at age and sex. RESULTS: Persons with Down syndrome had higher prevale nce and severity of the three markers studied than the control subject s. Atrophy and white matter lesions increased in prevalence with age; abnormal T2 hypointensity of the basal ganglia was more equally distri buted with age. CONCLUSION: Persons with Down syndrome have features o f premature aging detectable at routine MR imaging.