Background: Cognitive reserve (CR) has not been studied in people with Intellectual Developmental Disability, a population with a high incidence of dementia. Commonly adopted CR proxies should be adapted to reflect more specifically the experiences of people with Intellectual Developmental Disability. Method: This scoping review intended to…

Background: Dementia disproportionately affects people with intellectual disability. Most qualitative studies explore their experiences by utilising proxy-reports. A smaller number of studies illustrate the possibility of exploring perspectives directly from people with intellectual disability and dementia. Method: This systematic review…

Objectives: Characterise the circumstances associated with death during admission of adults with Down syndrome (DS) and to identify predictors of mortality. Patients and Methods: Observational study based on data on all emergent admissions of adults with DS to hospitals of the Spanish National Health System between 1997 and 2014. We analysed…

Background: Adults with intellectual disabilities are an at-risk group of developing dementia. In the absence of a cure for dementia, emphasis on treatment is the promotion of Quality of life (QoL). The aim of this review is to identify and describe QoL tools for people with intellectual disabilities and dementia. Method: A systematic review was…

Background: Adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and their families have high need for support services. This study assessed resource utilization among caregivers of intellectual and developmental disabilities and other conditions. Methods: We assessed 366 caregivers of adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities,…

Background: Caring for persons with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) demands specific expertise. Tacit knowledge seems to play an important role, but little is known about its nature, including what is necessary for its development and transfer. Aim: To gain understanding of the nature and development of tacit knowledge…

Background: In Austria, due to its history, only relatively little research on the topic of intellectual disabilities and dementia has been conducted to date. The present study thus aims to explore the challenges and tasks currently facing formal caregivers, together with assessing their wishes for further development. Methods: Ten semi-structured…

Background: The ageing of people with intellectual disabilities, with associated morbidity like dementia, calls for new types of care. Person-centred methods may support care staff in providing this, an example being Dementia Care Mapping (DCM). DCM has been shown to be feasible in ID-care. We examined the experiences of ID-professionals in using…

Background: Dementia is increasingly prevalent in people with severe/profound intellectual disabilities. However, early detection and diagnosis of dementia is complex in this population. This study aimed to identify observable dementia symptoms in adults with severe/profound intellectual disabilities in available literature. Method: A systematic…

Background: The accuracy of the National Task Group-Early Detection Screen for Dementia (NTG-EDSD) was evaluated in a sample of 185 adults with Down syndrome (DS), emphasizing 'mild cognitive impairment (MCI-DS)'. Method: Knowledgeable informants were interviewed with the NTG-EDSD, and findings were compared to an independent dementia status…

Background: Life expectancy is on rise and the intriguing question is: When does cognitive decline occur among adults with intellectual disability, compared to adults with typical development? This cross-sectional study examined cognitive performance of crystallised/fluid intelligence, working and long-term memory of adults with intellectual…

Background: Therapeutic untruths (TU) are used in dementia services to de-escalate distressing situations. The present authors explored the use of TU by care staff supporting people with an intellectual disability who displayed behaviours that challenged. Method: Data were collected from 126 staff (female = 72.2%; mean age = 41.9 years, SD = 10.7)…

Background: Assessment of age-associated disorders has become increasingly important. Methods: In a clinical setting, people with intellectual disability with and without dementia were assessed retrospectively using the Neuropsychological Test Battery (NTB) and the Dementia Questionnaire for People with Learning Disabilities (DLD) at two different…

Background: People with intellectual disability experience a higher prevalence of dementia, at an earlier age, than the general population. The aim of this review was to establish the psychological interventions and outcomes for individuals with intellectual disability and dementia. Methods: A search of eight electronic databases and reference…

Background: In intellectual disability, the cognitive delay is observed during developmental age, whereas in dementia, cognitive decline occurs during post-developmental period. So far, the risk of dementia in people with intellectual disability, excluding those with Down syndrome, is poorly known. Method: We screened dementia signs in a study…