Torr Jennifer, Davis Robert
Centre for Developmental Disability Health Victoria, Oakleigh, Victoria, Australia.
Curr Opin Psychiatry. 2007 Sep;20(5):467-71. doi: 10.1097/YCO.0b013e328278520d.
Increasing numbers of people with intellectual disability are now living well into old age. This paper will review the recent literature pertaining to the mental health of older people with intellectual disability.
Overall, the prevalence of mental health problems is high in adults of all ages with intellectual disability. A major epidemiological study did not report sufficient detail to examine the effect of ageing on specific disorders or the differential effects of ageing and early mortality in people with Down's syndrome. At least a third of people with Down's syndrome can expect to develop Alzheimer's disease in middle age whilst for other people with intellectual disability, Alzheimer's disease is probably no more common than in the general population. Diagnosis and management of dementia is complicated by the high rates of comorbid physical and mental health problems.
Overall, mental health problems in older people with intellectual disability are similar to younger people with intellectual disability, however there are more cases of dementia and physical health problems. Further research is needed to improve our understanding of the effects of ageing on the mental health and care needs of older people with intellectual disability.
越来越多的智障人士正步入老年并安享晚年。本文将综述近期有关老年智障人士心理健康的文献。
总体而言，各年龄段的成年智障人士心理健康问题患病率都很高。一项主要的流行病学研究未报告足够详细的信息，无法考察衰老对特定疾病的影响，也无法考察衰老和早逝对唐氏综合征患者的不同影响。至少三分之一的唐氏综合征患者在中年时可能会患上阿尔茨海默病，而对于其他智障人士来说，阿尔茨海默病的发病率可能并不比普通人群更高。痴呆症的诊断和管理因身心共病问题的高发生率而变得复杂。
总体而言，老年智障人士的心理健康问题与年轻智障人士相似，但痴呆症和身体健康问题的病例更多。需要进一步研究，以增进我们对衰老对老年智障人士心理健康和护理需求影响的理解。
