GLUCOSE EFFECTS ON COGNITION IN ADULTS WITH DOWNS-SYNDROME

Glucose enhances memory in a variety of individuals, including people with Alzheimer's disease. By 35 years of age, adults with Down's syndr ome (DS) develop the characteristic plaques and tangles found in Alzhe imer's disease, despite findings indicating that not all older DS indi viduals meet criteria for dementia. To examine the possibility that gl ucose enhances memory in adults with DS (mean age = 35 years, range = 19-55 years), adults with DS were given a battery of tests specificall y designed for individuals with DS in glucose and control conditions. No participant met criteria for dementia, regardless of age. Glucose e nhanced performance on tests requiring both long-term memory and audit ory processing. In addition, increased age was associated with poorer performance on the majority of tests in the control condition, indicat ing that cognitive decline with aging may be more prevalent in DS than previously believed.