Down syndrome, terminal illness and risk for dementia of the Alzheimer type

N. Schupf, W. P. Silverman, R. C. Sterling, W. B. Zigman

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Scopus citations

Abstract

Deceased adults with Down syndrome (DS; n = 99) between 20 and 69 years of age were compared to an age-matched sample of deceased mentally retarded people without DS (n = 99) for changes in adaptive behavior competence over the 3 years immediately preceding their death. The results indicated that adults with DS over 50 years of age were 3-4 times more likely to regress than were either matched controls or younger adults (with or without DS). The findings confirmed that older adults with DS are at increased risk for behavioral deterioration, most probably due to Alzheimer disease, even when factors associated with the elevated age-specific mortality of this population are controlled (e.g. terminal illnesses).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)181-188
Number of pages8
JournalBrain Dysfunction
Volume2
Issue number4
StatePublished - 1989
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Neuroscience
  • Clinical Neurology

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