Assessing the acceptability and feasibility of cognitive assessments for prodromal Alzheimer’s Disease in a population with Down’s Syndrome
- Becca Louch (University of Plymouth)
- Deanna Gallichan
- Donnchadh Murphy
Correspondence: rebecca.louch@plymouth.ac.uk
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurogenerative disease that impacts on multiple areas of cognition. Down’s Syndrome is a lifelong condition in which individuals have difficulties with learning and cognition. Alzheimer’s disease is very common in individuals with Down’s Syndrome, with up to 90% of individuals with Down’s syndrome over the age of 60 affected, with onset from age 35.
Batteries of neurocognitive tests can be used to screen for and detect Alzheimer’s Disease in a typical population. Many neurocognitive tests have been developed or adapted to be accessible to a population with Down’s Syndrome. However, there is no standardisation of the use of these tests, and they often detect Alzheimer’s at a much later stage than they would in a typical population.
Advances in healthcare are focusing on the use of biomarkers as a means to screen for and diagnose Alzheimer’s Disease. It is anticipated that in the future, the role for neurocognitive assessments will change will likely shift away from screening and diagnosis, and will instead be used to ‘stage’ the progression of the disease.
The current research is developing a neurocognitive battery for the detection of prodromal (early stage/pre-clinical) Alzheimer’s Disease, which is accessible to a population with Down’s Syndrome. The research is based on work by researchers at the University of Plymouth in developing a neurocognitive battery to stage prodromal Alzheimer’s Disease in a typical population. The current project is developing these measures so that they are accessible to individuals with Down’s Syndrome, and evaluates the acceptability and feasibility of using these measures for both service users and for the clinicians administering them. This research is a phase 1 evaluation of acceptability and feasibility, to lay the basis for future research to validate and evaluate the adapted measures.
The data analysis will make use of test-retest correlations to ascertain a stability coefficient and assess consistency of accessibility over time. Statistics relating to the number of participants who are able to complete the tests, including attrition rate, will be gathered. Additional qualitative measures on the experience of testing will be carried out. Clinicians who will be likely to use the measure will be provided an administration guide and asked to trial the battery on volunteer, and be asked to provide feedback.
Design, methodology, and preliminary findings will be presented.
