Stability and change in health, functional abilities, and behavior problems among adults with and without Down syndrome.
Changes in health, functional abilities, and behavior problems among 150 adults with Down syndrome and 240 adults with mental retardation due to other causes were examined with seven assessments over a 9-year period. Adults were primarily younger than 40, the age at which declines begin to be evident in individuals with Down syndrome. Adults with Down syndrome were advantaged in their functional abilities and lack of behavior problems, comparable in health, and exhibited comparable rates of change on these measures as adults with mental retardation due to other causes. Placement out of the parental home and parental death were predictors of change in health, functional abilities, and behavior problems.
Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53705, USA. esbensen@waisman.wisc.edu
Anna J
AJ
Esbensen
Marsha Mailick
MM
Seltzer
Marty Wyngaarden
MW
Krauss
D000203:Activities of Daily Living / Q000145:classification* / Q000523:psychology; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001076:Aptitude; D001601:Bereavement; D017028:Caregivers / Q000523:psychology; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007326:Institutionalization; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D007360:Intelligence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008426:Maternal Deprivation; D008875:Middle Aged; D010333:Paternal Deprivation; D012920:Social Behavior Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D012931:Social Environment; D014922:Wisconsin; D055815:Young Adult