Individuals with Down syndrome develop the neuropathological lesions of Alzheimer disease significantly earlier than those without [3158266] and have a shorter lifespan. Down syndrome is cuased by duplication of small regions of chromosome 21 [8197171]. The major features of Down syndrome are mental retardation, characteristic facial features, congenital malformations of the heart and gastrointestinal tract, thyroid disease, and an increased incidence of leukaemia [Epstein, 1989]. Neurons cultured in vivo form individuals with Down syndrome degenerate and exhibit apoptosis [8524410]. Down syndrome neurons also display increased generation of reactive oxygen species and treatment with antioxidants can prevent degeneration.
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