Ptomey, Lauren Taylor PHD

The Metabolic Health, Lifestyle, and Risk of Co-Occurring Health Conditions in Down Syndrome (MET-DS) study is a five-year, longitudinal deep-phenotyping study of factors driving the risk and severity of co-occurring conditions in children, adolescents, and young adults with Down syndrome, funded by the NIH INCLUDE Project (INvestigation of Co-occurring conditions across the Lifespan to Understand Down syndromE). The study involves a rigorous protocol for understanding the complex interplay between trisomy 21, metabolic dysregulation, obesity, lifestyle, and the development of co-occurring conditions across childhood, adolescence, and into young adulthood in people with Down syndrome. This effort will enroll 200 participants (ages 6-24 years of age) with Down syndrome from four clinical performance sites, and track conditions and variables across 3 data collection cycles.

Strategies for promoting healthy brain aging and preventing/delaying Alzheimer's disease are needed in adults with Down Syndrome (DS), a population at high risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease. The promotion of weight loss and improvements in diet quality in adults with DS may improve cognitive function and prevent or delay Alzheimer’s disease.