FUNCTIONAL REGRESSION IN MENTALLY RETARDED ADULTS

最近在医疗保健方面的改善明显增加了 唐氏综合症患者的寿命， 患有唐氏综合症的人表现出健康状况的变化， 提示过早或加速的功能能力 衰老 事实上，有充分的证据表明， 老年痴呆症的易感性。 然而，现有的关于唐氏症与 综合征和阿尔茨海默病在这方面受到限制， 他们的设计，样本量和受试者选择标准。 本次调查将收集纵向数据， 年龄相关的适应行为的变化，在一个大的群体， 中老年唐氏综合症患者， 将其分配给没有唐氏综合症的配对组。 匹配 变量将是年龄，性别，住宅安置，和严重程度 智力迟钝。 适应行为将使用 A.A.M. D适应行为量表，标准化且可靠的 仪器 最大和最具代表性的老年人样本 唐氏综合症患者将被研究， 关于智力迟钝者衰老的准确数据 将提供到目前为止收集到的。 如果像我们预期的那样，唐氏综合症患者确实会在 随着年龄的增长，这项研究的结果将用于 描述症状的进展。 此外，由于A 死亡的研究参与者尸检率很高， 一个人的一生，一个人的一生。 适应行为和神经病理学的退化程度 阿尔茨海默病的诊断将发生变化。

Recent improvements in medical care have markedly increased the life span of individuals with Down syndrome, and many older people with Down syndrome exhibit changes in health and functional capacities suggestive of premature or accelerated aging. Indeed, there is strong evidence that there is in this population a unique susceptibility to Alzheimer's disease. However, existing studies of the association between Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease have been limited with respect to their design, sample size, and subject selection criteria. The present investigation will collect longitudinal data regarding age-related changes in adaptive behavior in a large group of middle aged to older people with Down syndrome, and compare them to a matched group without Down syndrome. Matching variables will be age, sex, residential placement, and severity of mental retardation. Adaptive behavior will be assessed using the A.A.M.D. Adaptive Behavior Scale, a standardized and reliable instrument. The largest and most representative sample of older people with Down syndrome will be studied, and the most accurate data on the aging in mentally retarded individuals collected to date will be provided. If, as we expect, people with Down syndrome do regress in functioning as they age, results of this study will be used to describe the progression of symptoms. Additionally, because a high rate of autopsy among study participants who die is anticipated, a determination of the relationship between the extent of regression in adaptive behavior and neuropathological changes diagnostic of Alzheimer's disease will be made.