Key result
Internal jugular vein reflux and vascular dysfunction may contribute to decreased cerebrospinal fluid clearance of amyloid-beta, potentially explaining the early onset of Alzheimer's disease in Down syndrome.
The paper proposes that studying internal jugular vein function in Down syndrome patients could provide insights into the role of vascular dysfunction in the initiation of Alzheimer's disease.
Hypothesis-generating for jugular reflux in Down syndrome-related Alzheimer's; prospective vascular studies needed before any clinical application.
Down syndrome (DS) individuals are at high risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD) and consequently provide a unique opportunity to examine the factors leading to the onset of AD. This paper focuses on the neglected vascular parallels between AD and DS that can readily be examined in DS. Several recent AD studies provide evidence that internal jugular vein (IJV) reflux may result in white matter lesions and a 30% decrease in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) clearance of amyloid-β. At the same time, studies analyzing the synthesis of amyloid-β in DS showed greater than expected amounts of Aβ than would be predicted by the increase in gene dosage, perhaps due to slower clearance. These studies are discussed along with the possibility that the venous and CSF dysfunction found in AD patients may be present early in life in persons with DS, leaving them particularly vulnerable to early onset AD. Studying IJV function in DS provides an opportunity to understand the role of vascular function in the initiation of AD.
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Reed-Cossairt et al. (2012) conducted a review in Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome. Internal jugular vein (IJV) reflux and vascular dysfunction was evaluated. Internal jugular vein reflux and vascular dysfunction may contribute to decreased cerebrospinal fluid clearance of amyloid-beta, potentially explaining the early onset of Alzheimer's disease in Down syndrome.
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