dementia

Question 1

What are the main characteristics of dementia?

Answer 1

Disease of the brain
Usually occurs in older adults
Umbrella term for different types (Alzheimer’s, Vascular, Lewy Body)
Associated with memory and thinking decline
Progressive and incurable

Question 2

What are the key ICD-10 criteria for dementia?

Answer 2

Memory decline, especially in learning new information
Decline in cognitive abilities and daily living skills
Absence of delirium
Changes in emotional control/motivation/social behavior
Changes must persist >6 months

Question 2

What challenges exist in diagnosing dementia in people with intellectual disabilities?

Answer 2

Cannot self-report symptoms
Lack of reliable informants
Diagnostic overshadowing
Non-adapted screening tools
Co-morbidities
Scaffolding
Atypical presentations

Question 3

What are the key facts about Down Syndrome and dementia?

Answer 3

Average diagnosis age: 55 years
Median survival: 7 years post-diagnosis
95% diagnosed by age 68
Decline before age 40 is rare
Caused by triplication of chromosome 21

Question 3

What factors may help reduce dementia risk?

Answer 3

Physical exercise
Social engagement
Occupational activity
Education
Healthy lifestyle (managing cholesterol, blood pressure, weight, diabetes)

Question 4

Why study Alzheimer’s Disease in people with Down syndrome?

Answer 4

High prevalence in DS community
Provides insight into AD development
Helps understand clinical expression
Can improve diagnostics and treatments for both populations

Question 5

What factors can lead to earlier dementia diagnosis in Down Syndrome?

Answer 5

Having APOE4 alleles
Having two or more physical co-morbidities
Living with family
Presence of epilepsy

Question 6

How does Down Syndrome relate to Alzheimer’s pathology?

Answer 6

Three copies of chromosome 21 leads to gene overexpression
Amyloid precursor protein (APP) overexpression increases risk
Amyloid plaques found from age 30
100% have plaques & tangles by age 35

Question 7

How does dementia present in people with Down Syndrome?

Answer 7

Some studies show memory impairments as earliest change
Others report behavior and personality changes first
Affects memory, attention, and executive function
Some can tolerate amyloid build-up without cognitive decline

Question 8

How does cognitive lifestyle affect dementia risk?

Answer 8

Years of education
Occupational complexity
Social engagement
These create compensatory brain changes that help protect against dementia