UC Irvine Giving Day

The Center for Aging Research – Down syndrome (CFAR-DS) was established in 2020 by Co-Directors Mark Mapstone, PhD and Elizabeth Head, PhD.  The mission of our Center is to provide a rich environment and robust infrastructure to support innovative clinical and biomedical research through collaborations between researchers, families and self-advocates.

Our vision is to become a world-class academic research center that conducts research and provides education to improve the quality of life for aging people with Down syndrome. At UC Irvine, we have been a world leader in aging and Alzheimer disease research for people with Down syndrome.

Alzheimer’s disease is a major public health crisis for our aging population. People with Down syndrome are at increased risk for Alzheimer Disease due to the trisomy, or extra copy, of chromosome 21 that they are born with. This extra copy of chromosome 21 causes an overproduction of beta amyloid in the brain. Beta amyloid is one of the defining features of Alzheimer disease pathology. While the general population will be diagnosed around the age of 65 years, individuals with Down syndrome develop the pathology of Alzheimer disease at least 25 years earlier, usually around the age of 40 (NIH, 2020).  

People with Down syndrome have a 90% lifetime risk of developing dementia due to the extra copy of chromosome 21. In the U.S., there are over 220,000 people with Down syndrome.  Although there are several genetic causes of Alzheimer disease caused by mutations in genes, the number of families affected is relatively small (although we have learned a tremendous amount from them), thus, people with Down syndrome represent the largest group of individuals with a genetic cause of Alzheimer disease. There is a critical need to develop treatments or preventions that can help people with Down syndrome as they age.

We are raising funds to train the next generation of investigators who are researching aging in Down syndrome. The funds will cover trainee development activities including conference registrations, seminar attendance and other career advancing opportunities for researchers. Attending local, national and international scientific conferences and seminars is an important step for an early-stage investigator’s career development. The Center plays a role in multiple national studies, with lab members associated with CFAR-DS involved in complex, multi-site research projects and dozens of publications published in highly reputable journals each year. Conferences and seminars offer spaces for scientists to come together to gain new insights, share their findings and develop connections. Advancing science is one of the avenues to find ways of improving quality of life for aging individuals with Down syndrome.

This is the center's first year participating in Giving Day, but gifts made in the past have been used by some of the young investigators affiliated with the Center to attend the T21RS international meeting. All the recipients had a positive experience.

“I am grateful for this award because it allows me to share my research with the DS international community and advance research through establishing collaborations and receiving novel insights from researchers across the world. I am looking forward to sharing my work in DS to the broader community.” - Jeremy

“Thanks to their support, I will have the opportunity to present my research at the upcoming 5th T21RS International Conference. This will allow me to engage with top investigators in the field and discuss my research, as well as establish new collaborations that will advance Alzheimer's research in the Down syndrome population. Additionally, I am excited to deepen my understanding of other research topics. Once again, thank you for supporting my attendance at this meeting.”

Trainees have invited speakers around the world to give seminars for CFAR-DS, some in person and some virtually (e.g. Spain, United Kingdom). This provides exceptional opportunities for trainees to develop their collaborative networks that in turn, accelerate discoveries. The Center also coordinates different opportunities for trainees to directly connect with the Down syndrome community. This includes the UCI Down syndrome showcase put on in collaboration with the Down Syndrome Association of Orange County. The first UCI Down Syndrome showcase took place in 2023. The showcase celebrates the creative and entrepreneurial talents of local individuals with Down syndrome through a talent show and exhibitor booths. During the event at the Irvine Barclay Theatre, UC Irvine researchers, including faculty and students disseminate scientific research findings directly to the community and study participants through poster and slideshow presentations.

Thank you for your support!