Digital and palmar dermatoglyphics in dementia of the Alzheimer type.

Digital and palmar dermatoglyphics were examined in 29 men and 27 women with dementia of the Alzheimer type (DAT) and 112 age-, sex-, and racial group-matched controls. Female patients had significantly (p less than 0.05) more accessory triradii and complete Sydney creases than controls; no dermatoglyphic differences were detected in the males. Separating the patients by age of onset prior to or after age 65 years did not help differentiate patients from controls by dermatoglyphic profile. This study failed to confirm either the previously reported dermatoglyphic differences between DAT patients and controls or the reported similarity of the dermatoglyphic pattern of DAT to that of Down syndrome patients.