What are some signs that an older person with an intellectual disability may be developing Alzheimers disease?
Studies of individuals with ID have shown that behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer’s dementia may include, but are not limited to: the development of seizures in previously unaffected individuals, changes in personality, loss of memory and general function, long periods of inactivity or apathy, hyperactive reflexes, loss of activity of daily living skills, visual retention deficits, loss of speech, disorientation, increase in stereotyped behavior, and abnormal neurological signs. How are Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias diagnosed in people with intellectual disabilities? There is no single diagnostic test for Alzheimer’s disease that can be used equally well with all adults with ID. If the presence of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease is suspected, a complete physical examination and more frequent medical, neurological and psychological evaluations are strongly recommended to establish the progressive nature of the symptoms. However, universally applied screening instruments used w
