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Ageing in Down's Syndrome

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  29 January 2018

K. E. Hewitt*
Affiliation:
Stoke Park Group of Hospitals, Stapleton, Bristol, BS16 1QU
G. Carter
Affiliation:
Mental Health (Mental Handicap), University of Bristol; Stoke Park Group of Hospitals
J. Jancar
Affiliation:
Stoke Park Group of Hospitals; University of Bristol
*
Correspondence

Summary

In a group of 23 hospital patients aged over 50 with Down's syndrome, psychological testing indicated that significant intellectual deterioration, which was un-related to chronological age, sex, length of hospitalisation, or earlier mental age, had occurred in nine. Clinically, there was no evidence in any patient of active physical illness, focal neurological signs, or dementia, but significant associations were found between intellectual deterioration and decreased visual acuity, hearing loss, and macrocytosis.

Type
Papers
Copyright
Copyright © 1985 The Royal College of Psychiatrists 

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Footnotes

It is regretted that Dr G. Carter died in August 1984.

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