Sarah Pape

Sarah Pape is a Clinical Research Fellow at King's College London, working within the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, specifically in the Department of Forensic and Neurodevelopmental Science. She is actively involved with the London Down Syndrome Consortium (LonDownS), a multidisciplinary research group focused on understanding dementia in people with Down syndrome. Additionally, she works clinically as a psychiatrist specializing in intellectual disabilities and serves as Secretary of the dementia in intellectual disabilities special interest group (DID SIG).

Dr. Pape holds a BA from the University of Cambridge, an MBBS from King's College London, and is a Member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists (MRCPsych). Her educational background provides a strong foundation for her clinical and research work at the intersection of psychiatry and neurodevelopmental conditions.

Her research primarily focuses on dementia in Down syndrome, with particular emphasis on early detection of Alzheimer's disease, cognitive changes, and associated biomarkers. She investigates how cardiovascular risk factors, physical activity, and mental health disorders relate to cognitive decline in this population. Her work bridges clinical psychiatry with translational neuroscience, aiming to improve diagnosis, monitoring, and care for individuals with Down syndrome who are at high risk for dementia.

Analysis of Dr. Pape's publication record reveals a strong concentration on Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease research, with a particular focus on biomarker discovery, cognitive assessment methods, and healthcare disparities. Her work often involves longitudinal cohort studies and employs both clinical assessments and biological measures to understand the progression of dementia in this vulnerable population. Recent publications show increasing emphasis on blood-based biomarkers as potential tools for early detection and monitoring of Alzheimer's disease in people with Down syndrome.

• Secretary of the dementia in intellectual disabilities special interest group (DID SIG)
• Active researcher with the London Down Syndrome Consortium (LonDownS)
• Recipient of research funding for Down syndrome and dementia studies

Dr. Pape maintains an active clinical practice as a psychiatrist specializing in intellectual disabilities, which directly informs her research priorities and ensures her work remains grounded in real-world clinical challenges. She collaborates extensively with multidisciplinary teams including geneticists, psychologists, neurologists, and primary care providers to address the complex healthcare needs of people with Down syndrome.