Down's syndrome

Abstract

Following the substantial improvement in the life expectancy of people with Down's syndrome, the prevalence of age-related health problems has become increasingly apparent. One particularly important association is the age-associated risk of Alzheimer-like neuropathological change and dementia of the Alzheimer type. The diagnosis of dementia in people with Down's syndrome is more difficult because of the likely preexisting intellectual impairment, and it relies on establishing evidence of a functional deterioration in memory and other cognitive abilities often in association with changes in personality. Other age-related problems, such as sensory impairments and thyroid dysfunction, or the possibility of depression, need to be considered, as any associated functional deterioration may well be reversible. The diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease is important in order to make sense of the changes that have been observed and to guide in the development of support for that individual.