Search results for ‘Subject term:"downs syndrome"’ Sort:
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The project: building a brighter future
- Author:
- DAVIS Jill
- Journal article citation:
- Learning Disability Today, 10(1), January 2010, pp.34-36.
- Publisher:
- Pavilion
- Place of publication:
- Hove
The transition to adulthood can be stressful for young people with learning disabilities and their families, due to the lack of co-ordinated planning, information and options. Some years ago, the Foundation for People with Learning Disabilities launched a project called ‘What kind of a future?’ to improve the lives of people with Down’s syndrome. This project produced a booklet featuring stories of young people doing exciting things with their lives after leaving full-time education and can be downloaded at www.learningdisabilities.org.uk/what-kind-of-a-future. The project also ran a series of 10 workshops in 2008 and 2009 in Cardiff, Derby and London to help participants plan for their future and to help turn those plans into reality. The aims of the workshops were to ask participants to select topics linked to transition, invite local professionals to share their knowledge about the topics, offer the young people activities at home to enhance learning about the topic, and allow the families to make links with local professionals and organisations. A number of positive outcomes were achieved from the workshops, such as a family acquiring a direct payment that helped their daughter have a social life.
We're thinking three steps ahead
- Author:
- PITT Vern
- Journal article citation:
- Community Care, 22.10.09, 2009, pp.30-31.
- Publisher:
- Reed Business Information
The number of people with Down's syndrome developing dementia is rising as life expectancy increases. In response to this growing need, this article reports on the development of Highcroft House, one of the first Down's and dementia-specific facilities which is due to open shortly. The service will be operated by Dignus, which specialises in services for people with learning disabilities and additional needs.
A screening programme for adults with Down's syndrome
- Authors:
- BACKER Clare, JERVIS Nicola
- Journal article citation:
- Nursing Times, 10.07.07, 2007, pp.30-31.
- Publisher:
- Nursing Times
People with learning disabilities, especially those with Down's syndrome have more health needs than the general population. Those with Down's are more likely to experience problems involving the heart, thyroid, sensory impairment, diabetes and epilepsy. They also have an increased risk of developing dementia. This article discusses the Manchester baseline dementia screening project for people with Down's syndrome, which provided evidence on the prevalence of these conditions and identified a lack of health screening for people with Down's syndrome in the Manchester area.
Establishing a database for proactive screening of adults with Down's syndrome: when services work together
- Authors:
- HOBSON Ben, et al
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 6(2), 2012, pp.99-105.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Adults with Down’s syndrome are at higher risk of developing dementia than the general population and do so at an earlier age. Diagnosis of dementia in an adult with Down’s syndrome can be difficult because of the lack of a functional baseline. This paper describes a service improvement project with 2 aims: to identify and screen all adults with Down's syndrome aged over 30 years in a defined locality using a standardised instrument to establish functional baselines; and to set up a database to facilitate early diagnosis of dementia in this population. An assistant psychologist used a standardised instrument to screen 65 participants with a diagnosis of Down’s syndrome who had been identified through contact with health, social, and third sector, and housing services. Three groups were identified: group 1 showed no significant change; group 2 showed significant change but no signs of dementia; and group 3 showed significant change plus signs of dementia. People with suspected dementia were referred on for further assessment and supportive services. Regular re-screening is planned for the other 2 groups. The article demonstrates how a proactive screening project can be established by employing working partnerships between intellectual disability and older adult services to aid diagnosis.
Assessment of dementia in people with learning disabilities
- Author:
- TORR Jennifer
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, 3(3), September 2009, pp.3-9.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias are at least as prevalent in older people with learning disabilities as in the general population. In addition, people with Down’s syndrome have high rates of early onset Alzheimer’s disease. Assessment of dementia in people with learning disabilities is made difficult by pre-existing cognitive and functional impairments and high rates of comorbid disorders. This paper discusses the assessment of dementia in people with learning disabilities. The assessment procedure needs to include a comprehensive description of baseline functioning and pattern of decline, rigorous medical work-up and treatment of identified conditions, serial cognitive assessments, and functional and risk assessments to guide care planning.
Screening adults with Down's syndrome for early signs of dementia
- Author:
- MCBRIEN Judith
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Integrated Care, 17(3), June 2009, pp.3-7.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
This article outlines the case for learning disability teams to provide routine screening of adults with Down's syndrome for early signs of dementia. It is illustrated by reference to practice in one such service where clinical and research developments have gone hand in hand, with tangible benefits to clients, carers and the multi-disciplinary team. Although specifically designed to meet the challenge of the increasing number of people with Down's syndrome who develop dementia, it is applicable to the care of all people with learning disabilities.
The subjective experience of individuals with Down syndrome living with dementia
- Authors:
- LLOYD Vicki, KALSY Sunny, GATHERER Amanda
- Journal article citation:
- Dementia: the International Journal of Social Research and Practice, 6(1), February 2007, pp.63-88.
- Publisher:
- Sage
An increasing number of studies have begun to explore the subjective experience of individuals with dementia. However, despite the increased prevalence of dementia in individuals with Down syndrome, no such published research has been undertaken within this population. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives and subjective experiences of six individuals with Down syndrome and dementia. Semi-structured interview accounts were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis, in order to gain a level of understanding concerning the impact of dementia upon respondents’ lives and sense of self. Five main themes emerged: (1) Self-image, (2) The Relational Self, (3) Making Sense of Decline,(4) Coping Strategies and (5) Emotional Experience. Whilst the process of adjusting to dementia appeared comparable to the general population, the content of this was influenced by multiple levels of context specific to having a concomitant intellectual disability.
Adults with Down's syndrome: the prevalence of complications and health care in the community
- Authors:
- HENDERSON Alex, et al
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of General Practice, 57(534), January 2007, pp.50-55.
- Publisher:
- Royal College of General Practitioners
This study aimed to determine the prevalence of common medical problems in adults with Down's syndrome, and to assess current practice regarding medical surveillance of these patients. data were obtained from the primary care records of adults with Down's syndrome living in the Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead areas. The results found that complications such as hypothyroidism, coeliac disease, and obesity occur more frequently in adults with Down's syndrome than previous paediatric prevalence studies suggest. In this study, 48% of adults with Down's syndrome had not seen a doctor in the previous 12 months and 33% had not had a medical assessment in the previous 3 years. It is concluded that many individuals with Down's syndrome do not have access to regular healthcare checks, despite the high frequency of common medical complications in adult life.
The role of prospective screening in the diagnosis of dementia in people with Down's syndrome
- Authors:
- STARKEY Hayley, BEVINS Shelley, BONELL Simon
- Journal article citation:
- Advances in Mental Health and Intellectual Disabilities, 8(5), 2014, pp.283-291.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Purpose: People with Down's syndrome are at increased risk of developing early onset Alzheimer's disease.This paper reports on a prospective screening programme and asks whether the programme is effective in identifying dementia-related changes in people with Down's syndrome and whether the current screening intervals are appropriate. Design/methodology/approach: All adults with Down's syndrome in Plymouth (UK) are identified and offered a comprehensive test battery at baseline at the age of 20 and then have testing biennially from 40 to 50 and annually after 50. All individuals diagnosed with dementia between 2001 and 2013 were identified and their case notes examined. The symptoms at the time of diagnosis were identified and whether these symptoms had been identified through the screening programme or by other routes were recorded. Prevalence data and age at diagnosis were also recorded. Findings: In total, 26 people were diagnosed with dementia during the study period. Of these, the diagnosis of dementia followed concerns being identified during the routine screening programme in 54 per cent of cases. In the younger age group (age 40-49) 63 per cent of people were identified through the screening programme. At the time of diagnosis a mean of 5.5 areas of concern were in evidence. Originality/value: Although the study is limited by small sample size, the paper adds to a growing evidence base around the value of prospective dementia screening in people with Down's syndrome. It is also one of a few studies exploring the frequency of screening. Additionally, it adds further data about prevalence of dementia in people with Down's syndrome. (Edited publisher abstract)
Six weeks to 45 years: a longitudinal study of a population with Down syndrome
- Author:
- CARR Janet
- Journal article citation:
- Journal of Applied Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 25(5), September 2012, pp.414-422.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
A population sample of 30 people with Down syndrome, repeatedly studied since infancy, has now been followed up at the age of 45 years. The paper provides an overview of their abilities over their life span to date, focusing particularly on the most recent 24 years. As at all previous occasions from age 30 onwards, intelligence, language, academic abilities and memory were tested, and self-help skills assessed. The most striking finding is the maintenance of test scores. Mean IQs, both non-verbal and verbal, changed little from age 21 to 45. Disregarding the scores of 2 women severely affected by dementia, the remainder of the cohort lost over the whole period an average of less than 1 point in non-verbal IQ and gained over 5 months in verbal age. Scores on memory tests by some of those not yet diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease declined, in some cases significantly, suggesting that other members of the cohort too may be showing the early signs of the disease. The article concludes that most of the cohort show few indications of decline in ability. However, at the latest stage, a number now are or may be affected by Alzheimer’s disease, and this may require closer monitoring in the future.