As with the general aging adult population, there is an urgent need to understand the preclinical and early phases of AD (Alzheimer disease) progression in the adult population with DS. The aim of this scoping review was to synthesize the current state of the evidence and identify gaps in the literature regarding functional activity performance and falls and their significance to disease staging in relation to Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) in adults with DS.Fourteen eligible studies were included in this review. The studies indicated how functional activity performance and engagement may contribute to early identification of those at risk of cognitive decline and AD development and/or progression.
There is a need to expand the research regarding ADRD pathology relative to functional outcomes in adults with DS. Functional measures related to disease staging and cognitive impairment are essential to understanding how AD progression is characterized within real-world settings. This scoping review identified the need for additional mixed-methods research to examine the use of assessment and intervention related to function and its detection of cognitive decline and AD progression.
