Research paper
Down syndrome and dementia: A randomized, controlled trial of antioxidant supplementation
Study answer
What this study found
Antioxidant supplementation was safe and well tolerated, but it did not improve or stabilize cognitive function compared with placebo over 2 years. The primary cognitive outcome, DMR SOC, was null (slope 0.34 points per 1/2-year; 95% CI -1.39 to 2.07; P = 0.70), with no benefit at 1 year (difference 1.69; 95% CI -2.92 to 6.31; P = 0.47) or 2 years (difference 3.71; 95% CI -4.81 to 12.22; P = 0.39). SIB was also null at 1 year (difference -9.08; 95% CI -23.86 to 5.70; P = 0.23) and 2 years (difference -1.51; 95% CI -13.65 to 10.63; P = 0.81). Most secondary measures were similarly not…
- Study & population
- Randomized, placebo-controlled trial in adults with Down syndrome and Alzheimer-type dementia receiving standard dementia care at two ambulatory clinic sites in California.
- Intervention
- Oral antioxidant combination: 900 IU alpha-tocopherol, 200 mg ascorbic acid, and 600 mg alpha-lipoic acid daily for 2 years, taken as one capsule at breakfast and two capsules with the evening meal.
- Key limitation
- Small active-arm sample and substantial attrition over time limited power, with only 23 participants evaluated at year 1 and 16 at year 2.
View source
Open PDFOriginal abstract
Individuals with Down syndrome over age 40 years are at risk for developing dementia of the Alzheimer type and have evidence for chronic oxidative stress. There is a paucity of treatment trials for dementia in Down syndrome in comparison to Alzheimer…