Current evidence on drug therapy for dementia in people with Down syndrome: an overview of systematic reviews

Abstract

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) are at a higher risk of developing dementia at an earlier age. Identifying and summarizing studies that provide strong evidence in drug therapy is crucial for aiding healthcare professionals in clinical decision-making. Objective: To identify systematic reviews (SRs) published in various databases and evaluate the effectiveness of pharmacological interventions for treating dementia specifically in individuals with DS. Methods: SRs published in the United States National Library of Medicine (PubMed), Scopus, Web of Science, Biblioteca Virtual em Saúde (BVS), and Cochrane Library over the past ten years were included. The methodological quality of the SRs was assessed using the AMSTAR-2 and the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation (GRADE) tools. Results: Five SRs were included, analyzing the effects of simvastatin, antioxidants, acetyl-L-carnitine, anticonvulsants, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (donepezil), NMDA receptor antagonists (memantine), and fast-acting intranasal insulin on dementia symptoms in DS patients. Conclusion: All SRs indicated low — or less — certainty of evidence, suggesting that various pharmacological approaches should be interpreted with caution.