Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's connection

My 22 year old son (Forrest) with Down syndrome is grieving the death of a long time older neighbor and friend who lived with Alzhiemer's for many years. Forrest and Julie were great together,neither one ever seemed to notice that the other was different or "disabled". Julie was a scrabble champion and Forrest excels in Chess, so "connect-four" was fair compromise on rainy afternoons. Julie's pre-Alzheimer's life was that of a socially engaged wealthy widow with many friends. Forrest loves going to the movies and Julie would frequently tag along. When Julie didn't understand the plot she would look at Forrest's gleeful animation to clue her in. They were easy-going buddies and a rare authentic bond formed between them. No agency or "day program" was paying one to socialize with the other.

When I told Forrest about Julie passing away last week, he surprised me by crying intensely. He asked "why" and said he wanted to see her again. "Julie always let me sit in the front seat" he said through his tears.I remembered then something I had read about several years ago about about chromosomal similarities between people like Julie and Forrest. Scientists were searching for a useful link that would one day provide a "cure".

The relationship between Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's disease is mysterious: there is a connection between chromosome 21 in both of these. The 21st chromosome is the one that gets an extra "arm" (trisomy 21) in the beginning of fertilization that makes people with Down Syndrome share similar facial features and with unusually creative and loving personalities (remember,this is a mother writing). Studies of the brains of people with Down Syndrome reveal that, by the age of 40, almost all develop the brain changes characteristic of Alzheimer's disease. Scientists have hoped to find a link between the two "patients" in hope of one day finding a "cure".

Perhaps their relationship was a perfect anecdotal example of what science is trying to prove. I believe Julie and Forrest found the "cure" in their shared 21st chromosome. Perhaps we should consider matching up these wonderful citizens in their day programs and rehab centers.