Cognitive performance of 40 first-degree relatives of patients with probable Alzheimer disease was compared to that of 24 matched controls without a family history of dementia. Across a test-retest interval ranging from 1 to 6 years, relatives more often showed evidence of cognitive decline, and in multivariate analyses of memory and intelligence measures, relatives of patients with early-onset dementia (< 67 years) showed greater decline than controls or relatives of patients with late-onset dementia. All changes observed to date are in the subclinical range, and further follow-up will be needed to determine the reliability of change trajectories. However, the findings suggest that family history of dementia may be worthy of monitoring in research on normal cognitive aging.

No abstract

Striking technological advances in the study of human chromosomes have revealed an excess of genetic material in the cells of patients with Down's syndrome. Both the trisomic and translocation forms of mongolism are discussed, as is the assessment of morbidity risks in relatives of a given patient. The origin of the chromosomal abnormalities, and the mechanisms by which they generate the clinical picture of Down's syndrome, constitute questions for further research. When this etiological enigma is resolved optional management of patients and their relatives will depend, even more than at present, upon the active collaboration of psychologists and psychiatrists with human geneticists.

No abstract

No abstract