M. Florencia Iulita, PhD, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain, describes the results from a study examining the effect of sex on clinical presentation and biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) in adults with Down syndrome. Results of the study showed that age at diagnosis and prevalence of AD was similar between men and women with Down syndrome. Biomarker profiles were also similar between men and women, although women who carried the APOE ε4 genetic risk variant presented with AD earlier than men or women lacking the APOE ε4 allele, suggesting an interaction between sex and APOE ε4. Dr Iulita explains that considering sex and APOE ε4 genotype is important in future research. Dr Iulita wishes to acknowledge all colleagues at the Sant Pau Memory Unit, in particular Dr. Alexandre Bejanin (co-first author of this study) and Dr. Juan Fortea (senior PI of the Down syndrome cohort). This interview took place during the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC), 2021.
