Hewitt K E, Fenner M E, Torpy D
J Ment Defic Res. 1986 Sep;30 ( Pt 3):217-25. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2788.1986.tb01316.x.
In 148 mentally handicapped in-patients aged between 65 and 88 years, evidence was found for ongoing intellectual development in adulthood until late middle-age. This was usually followed by a decline in intellectual functioning which became significant in 18%. For these, intellectual deterioration was associated with deficient self-care skills, poor orientation and staff reports of deterioration. It was not related to previous ability levels or prolonged hospitalization. For the entire sample, competence in self-care skills was high though behaviour disturbance was present in about half. Results are discussed in terms of their implications for the care and training of the elderly mentally handicapped.
在148名年龄在65岁至88岁之间的智障住院患者中，有证据表明成年期直至中年后期智力仍在持续发展。通常随后智力功能会下降，18%的患者这种下降变得显著。对于这些患者，智力衰退与自理技能不足、定向障碍以及工作人员报告的病情恶化有关。它与先前的能力水平或长期住院无关。对于整个样本，自理技能能力较高，不过约一半的患者存在行为障碍。将根据这些结果对老年智障患者护理和培训的影响进行讨论。
