Skip to main content
Top
Published in: NeuroMolecular Medicine 4/2021

Open Access 01-12-2021 | SARS-CoV-2 | Original Paper

Specific Susceptibility to COVID-19 in Adults with Down Syndrome

Authors: Tomer Illouz, Arya Biragyn, Milana Frenkel-Morgenstern, Orly Weissberg, Alessandro Gorohovski, Eugene Merzon, Ilan Green, Florencia Iulita, Lisi Flores-Aguilar, Mara Dierssen, Ilario De Toma, Hefziba Lifshitz, Stylianos E. Antonarakis, Eugene Yu, Yann Herault, Marie-Claude Potier, Alexandra Botté, Randall Roper, Benjamin Sredni, Ronit Sarid, Jacqueline London, William Mobley, Andre Strydom, Eitan Okun

Published in: NeuroMolecular Medicine | Issue 4/2021

Login to get access

Abstract

The current SARS-CoV-2 outbreak, which causes COVID-19, is particularly devastating for individuals with chronic medical conditions, in particular those with Down Syndrome (DS) who often exhibit a higher prevalence of respiratory tract infections, immune dysregulation and potential complications. The incidence of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is much higher in DS than in the general population, possibly increasing further the risk of COVID-19 infection and its complications. Here we provide a biological overview with regard to specific susceptibility of individuals with DS to SARS-CoV-2 infection as well as data from a recent survey on the prevalence of COVID-19 among them. We see an urgent need to protect people with DS, especially those with AD, from COVID-19 and future pandemics and focus on developing protective measures, which also include interventions by health systems worldwide for reducing the negative social effects of long-term isolation and increased periods of hospitalization.
Appendix
Available only for authorised users
Literature
go back to reference Avery, D. T., Deenick, E. K., Ma, C. S., Suryani, S., Simpson, N., Chew, G. Y., et al. (2010). B cell-intrinsic signaling through IL-21 receptor and STAT3 is required for establishing long-lived antibody responses in humans. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 207(1), 155–155.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral Avery, D. T., Deenick, E. K., Ma, C. S., Suryani, S., Simpson, N., Chew, G. Y., et al. (2010). B cell-intrinsic signaling through IL-21 receptor and STAT3 is required for establishing long-lived antibody responses in humans. Journal of Experimental Medicine, 207(1), 155–155.CrossRefPubMedPubMedCentral
go back to reference Eijsvoogel, N. B., Hollegien, M. I., Bok, V. L. A., Derksen Lubsen, A. G., Dikken, F. P. J., Leenders, S., et al. (2017). Declining antibody levels after hepatitis B vaccination in Down syndrome: A need for booster vaccination? Journal of Medical Virology, 89(9), 1682–1685. https://doi.org/10.1002/jmv.24813CrossRefPubMed Eijsvoogel, N. B., Hollegien, M. I., Bok, V. L. A., Derksen Lubsen, A. G., Dikken, F. P. J., Leenders, S., et al. (2017). Declining antibody levels after hepatitis B vaccination in Down syndrome: A need for booster vaccination? Journal of Medical Virology, 89(9), 1682–1685. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1002/​jmv.​24813CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Freeman, S. B., Taft, L. F., Dooley, K. J., Allran, K., Sherman, S. L., Hassold, T. J., et al. (1998). Population-based study of congenital heart defects in Down syndrome. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 80(3), 213–217.CrossRefPubMed Freeman, S. B., Taft, L. F., Dooley, K. J., Allran, K., Sherman, S. L., Hassold, T. J., et al. (1998). Population-based study of congenital heart defects in Down syndrome. American Journal of Medical Genetics, 80(3), 213–217.CrossRefPubMed
go back to reference Hüls, A., Costa, A. C. S., Dierssen, M., Asaad Baksh, R., Bargagna, S., Baumer, N. T., et al. (2021). Medical vulnerability of individuals with Down syndrome to severe COVID-19—data from the Trisomy 21 Research Society and the UK ISARIC4C survey. EClinicalMedicine. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eclinm.2021.100769 Hüls, A., Costa, A. C. S., Dierssen, M., Asaad Baksh, R., Bargagna, S., Baumer, N. T., et al. (2021). Medical vulnerability of individuals with Down syndrome to severe COVID-19—data from the Trisomy 21 Research Society and the UK ISARIC4C survey. EClinicalMedicine. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1016/​j.​eclinm.​2021.​100769
go back to reference Jenkins, E. C., Ye, L., Velinov, M., Krinsky-McHale, S. J., Zigman, W. B., Schupf, N., et al. (2012). Mild cognitive impairment identified in older individuals with Down syndrome by reduced telomere signal numbers and shorter telomeres measured in microns. American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 159B(5), 598–604. https://doi.org/10.1002/ajmg.b.32066CrossRef Jenkins, E. C., Ye, L., Velinov, M., Krinsky-McHale, S. J., Zigman, W. B., Schupf, N., et al. (2012). Mild cognitive impairment identified in older individuals with Down syndrome by reduced telomere signal numbers and shorter telomeres measured in microns. American Journal of Medical Genetics. Part B, Neuropsychiatric Genetics, 159B(5), 598–604. https://​doi.​org/​10.​1002/​ajmg.​b.​32066CrossRef
go back to reference Marcus, C. L., Keens, T. G., Bautista, D. B., Vonpechmann, W. S., & Ward, S. L. D. (1991). Obstructive sleep-apnea in children with down-syndrome. [Article]. Pediatrics, 88(1), 132–139.PubMed Marcus, C. L., Keens, T. G., Bautista, D. B., Vonpechmann, W. S., & Ward, S. L. D. (1991). Obstructive sleep-apnea in children with down-syndrome. [Article]. Pediatrics, 88(1), 132–139.PubMed
go back to reference Pontes, G. C. L., Lobato, A. C. R., da Silva, S. M., da Silva, D. F. A., da Silva, A. F., Rocha, R. S. B., et al. (2020). COVID-19 in a Down Syndrome Newborn (2020). Pontes, G. C. L., Lobato, A. C. R., da Silva, S. M., da Silva, D. F. A., da Silva, A. F., Rocha, R. S. B., et al. (2020). COVID-19 in a Down Syndrome Newborn (2020).
Metadata
Title
Specific Susceptibility to COVID-19 in Adults with Down Syndrome
Authors
Tomer Illouz
Arya Biragyn
Milana Frenkel-Morgenstern
Orly Weissberg
Alessandro Gorohovski
Eugene Merzon
Ilan Green
Florencia Iulita
Lisi Flores-Aguilar
Mara Dierssen
Ilario De Toma
Hefziba Lifshitz
Stylianos E. Antonarakis
Eugene Yu
Yann Herault
Marie-Claude Potier
Alexandra Botté
Randall Roper
Benjamin Sredni
Ronit Sarid
Jacqueline London
William Mobley
Andre Strydom
Eitan Okun
Publication date
01-12-2021
Publisher
Springer US
Published in
NeuroMolecular Medicine / Issue 4/2021
Print ISSN: 1535-1084
Electronic ISSN: 1559-1174
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s12017-021-08651-5

Other articles of this Issue 4/2021

NeuroMolecular Medicine 4/2021 Go to the issue