title: Supporting a happy, healthy adolescence for young people with Down syndrome and other intellectual disabilities: recommendations for clinicians.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To review clinical updates and current healthcare issues for adolescents with Down syndrome and intellectual disabilities, including behavioral, social, and emotional issues, health supervision recommendations, and recommendations for supporting the transition process.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Several recent findings merit particular attention: low activity levels and implications for overweight and poor bone density; high prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea and its implications; prevalence of mental health and behavioral concerns; and need for appropriate transition services.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In guiding adolescents with Down syndrome towards healthy productive adult lives, clinicians can make use of healthcare guidelines and should also take a broader, more interdisciplinary approach to ensure that social, educational, and vocational plans are in place to support physical and mental health and development during transition into adulthood. Many of these issues have broader applicability to any adolescent with an intellectual disability.
authors.affiliation: Boston Children's Hospital, Down Syndrome Program, Developmental Medicine Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
authors.forename: Nicole
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Baumer
authors.forename: Emily J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Davidson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000294:Adolescent Behavior / Q000523:psychology*; D003863:Depression / Q000517:prevention & control; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D004644:Emotions; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008607:Intellectual Disability / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D050177:Overweight / Q000517:prevention & control*; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D011627:Puberty / Q000523:psychology; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D019529:Sexuality / Q000523:psychology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000517:prevention & control; D066107:Social Skills; D060305:Transition to Adult Care