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The neglected puzzle of dementia in people with severe/profound intellectual disabilities: A systematic literature review of observable symptoms
Author(s) -
Wissing Maureen B. G.,
Ulgiati Aurora M.,
Hobbelen Johannes S. M.,
De Deyn Peter P.,
Waninge Aly,
Dekker Alain D.
Publication year - 2022
Publication title -
journal of applied research in intellectual disabilities
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 63
eISSN - 1468-3148
pISSN - 1360-2322
DOI - 10.1111/jar.12920
Subject(s) - dementia , psycinfo , intellectual disability , psychology , population , inclusion (mineral) , cognitive decline , gerontology , cognition , psychiatry , medline , clinical psychology , medicine , disease , social psychology , environmental health , pathology , political science , law
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 literature search was conducted in PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science with an exhaustive search string using a combination of search terms for severe/profound intellectual disabilities and dementia/ageing. Results Eleven studies met inclusion criteria. Cognitive decline, behavioural and psychological alterations, decline in activities of daily living as well as neurological and physical changes were found. Conclusions Only a very limited number of studies reported symptoms ascribed to dementia in adults with severe/profound intellectual disabilities. Given the complexity of signalling and diagnosing dementia, dedicated studies are required to unravel the natural history of dementia in this population.