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Dementia in people with Down's syndrome
J Tyrrell1, M Cosgrave, M McCarron
1Department of Psychiatry, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin 2, Ireland. jftyrrel@tcd.ie
International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry
|December 19, 2001
Summary
Dementia affects 13.3% of people with Down
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience and Neurology
- Genetics and Developmental Disorders
- Public Health and Epidemiology
Background:
- Down's syndrome (DS) is associated with an increased risk of early-onset dementia.
- Understanding dementia prevalence and clinical characteristics in DS is crucial for targeted interventions.
- Limited data exists on dementia in the Irish DS population.
Purpose of the Study:
- To ascertain the prevalence of dementia in an Irish cohort of individuals with Down's syndrome.
- To identify clinical factors associated with dementia in this population.
- To explore the utility of specific cognitive and adaptive function measures.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional study involving 285 individuals with Down's syndrome (aged 35-74).
- Dementia diagnosis utilized modified DSM-IV criteria.
- Cognitive function assessed via Down's syndrome Mental Status Examination (DSMSE) and Test for Severe Impairment (TSI); adaptive function via Daily Living Skills Questionnaire (DLSQ).
Main Results:
- The overall prevalence of dementia was 13.3%, with a mean age of onset of 54.7 years.
- Dementia was significantly associated with epilepsy, myoclonus, and head injury.
- The demented group was significantly older than the non-demented group; TSI and DLSQ scores differed significantly between groups.
Conclusions:
- Dementia is prevalent in the Irish Down's syndrome population at 13.3%.
- Epilepsy, older age, and specific cognitive/adaptive scores predict dementia.
- The DLSQ, age, and epilepsy presence are key predictors for dementia in DS.
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