Deciphering HSA21 genes associated with Alzheimers disease in Down Syndrome

Down Syndrome (DS) is caused by a triplication of genes on chromosome 21 (HSA21) and gives rise to early onset Alzheimers disease. Recent work suggests that genes other than APP on HSA21 contribute to AD pathogenesis. The current proposal incorporates several technological methods that allow for silencing of individual and clusters of genes in one HSA21 copy, leaving the other two intact. This approach will allow for systematic testing to identify which subset of genes the AD phenotype in DS.