Dementia in Down's syndrome: observations from a neurology clinic.
Clinical manifestations of dementia were reviewed in 15 Down's syndrome (DS) patients referred to a neurological clinic over a 24-month period for mental deterioration. The ages ranged from 32-64 years. One hundred percent showed personality changes and loss of independent daily living skills, the presenting symptoms in two-thirds of the cases. Other manifestations included seizures (53%), gait deterioration (73%), sphincteric incontinence (40%), and pathological release reflexes (67%). All 7 patients with CT-scans showed moderate or severe central and peripheral cortical atrophy. Detailed clinical information is presented for two patients, one of whom showed a temporary remission with imipramine. A characteristic dementia syndrome appears to be present in a subpopulation of aging DA patients with radiographic findings of Alzheimer's disease.
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000175:diagnosis; D001284:Atrophy; D002540:Cerebral Cortex / Q000473:pathology; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009042:Motivation; D012021:Reflex, Abnormal / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed