Genetically-Linked Syndromes in Intellectual Disabilities

The content of available practice literature in dementia and intellectual disability

Adults with intellectual disability are living to ages seen within the general population and they, too, are at risk of developing dementia. The purpose of this review was to identify the nature and content of the literature related to adults with intellectual disability and dementia and bring together guidelines for services and staff providing care. The preponderance of work between 1995 and 2004 focuses on the biomedical, diagnosis and assessment aspects of the disease. Although guidelines exist, there is a lack of published literature on the efficacy of practice strategies to guide the provision of daily care. Future research is discussed that could support continued community living and high quality of life during all stages of the disease.

Carer reports of health status among adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities in Taiwan living at home and in institutions

BACKGROUND

The aim of the present study was to assess the health status of a cohort of adults with intellectual/developmental disabilities (I/DD) residing in family homes or institutions in Taiwan and to examine whether morbidity varied with age, sex, existing diagnosis [Down syndrome (DS), seizures, cerebral palsy (CP), intellectual disability (ID) level] and residential status.

METHODS

Systematic randomization based on geographic areas was employed for sampling selection. Primary carers were interviewed to provide health-related information on individuals with I/DD aged 33 years or older living in institutions (n = 614) or living with their family (n = 514) in Taiwan.

RESULTS

Cardiovascular, neurological, visual and hearing impairments increased with age; while gastrointestinal, endocrine, infectious and dermatological diseases did not, after adjusting for sex, level of ID, presence of DS, seizures or CP, across settings. Institution cohorts were more likely to have infectious diseases, skin diseases, hepatitis or to be hepatitis carriers, and to have psychiatric disorders.

CONCLUSIONS

Organ system morbidity increased with age and generally was influenced by the same factors as have been reported for cohorts in western countries. The results also suggest that disease/condition outcomes may vary or be influenced differentially by residential setting.