Cognitive and behavioural profiles of the elderly mentally handicapped.
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.
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology*; D011594:Psychometrics; D012917:Social Adjustment; D013195:Stanford-Binet Test