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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.
Should we refer for a dementia assessment? A checklist to help know when to be concerned about dementia in adults with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities
- Authors:
- WHITWHAM Sarah, MCBRIEN Judith, BROOM Wendy
- Journal article citation:
- British Journal of Learning Disabilities, 39(1), March 2011, pp.17-21.
- Publisher:
- Wiley
The genetic risk in the Down syndrome population for the early onset of Alzheimer’s disease is well known. This research developed a screening checklist to help carers and professionals know when to make a referral for a dementia assessment. A checklist was completed for all new referrals to a dementia service for people with intellectual disabilities. The obtained scores were compared to the diagnostic outcome of a comprehensive dementia assessment. Participants included 159 individuals with learning disability, of which 146 had Downs. After 12 months of collecting data, 39 had a diagnosis of dementia. Findings indicated that a higher score on the checklist correlates significantly with a subsequent diagnosis of dementia. Overall, the checklist appeared to be a useful tool to prompt referrals for a full dementia assessment. The authors concluded that, by helping the referrer to identify dementia, it may reduce the number of late or non-referrals.
The development of a sex offender assessment and treatment service within a community learning disability team (the SHEALD project): mapping and assessing risk
- Authors:
- MCBRIEN Judith, NEWTON Liam, BANKS John
- Journal article citation:
- Tizard Learning Disability Review, 15(1), January 2010, pp.31-43.
- Publisher:
- Emerald
Managing the risk of sex offending and sexually harmful behaviour presented by some men with intellectual disabilities is enhanced if community services map the number in their catchment area, apply appropriate risk assessment and management methods, and implement evidence-based treatment. This paper describes the methods and progress of one community intellectual disability service based in a large city in the South-West of the UK in mapping and assessing the risks. This service was able to develop a method of comprehensive sexual risk assessment, based on the best evidence available. The number of men with sexually risky behaviour and intellectual disability area in the catchment area came as a surprise to practitioners, managers and commissioners. The article concludes that there are probably more sexually risky men with intellectual disability in each catchment area than is appreciated by services. A concerted effort by a multi-disciplinary intellectual disability team can provide information on these men with risky behaviour and offending histories.