Dementia in Down syndrome. Untangling the threads

Despite frequent neuropathological findings, the prevalence of dementia in people with Down syndrome is thought to be no higher than in the general population. The age of onset, however, is approximately two decades earlier. The most important factor in the general practitioner's assessment of a person with this syndrome who appears to be dementing is the exclusion of medical problems that may be masquerading as Alzheimer disease. This article presents an efficient system for the clinical review of people with Down syndrome who are declining in function. The system is also adaptable for use with people who do not have this syndrome.