title: Down syndrome and dementia: Is depression a confounder for accurate diagnosis and treatment?
abstract: The past century has seen a dramatic improvement in the life expectancy of people with Down syndrome. However, research has shown that individuals with Down syndrome now have an increased likelihood of early onset dementia. They are more likely than their mainstream peers to experience other significant co-morbidities including mental health issues such as depression. This case study reports a phenomenon in which three individuals with Down syndrome and dementia are described as experiencing a rebound in their functioning after a clear and sustained period of decline. It is hypothesized that this phenomenon is not actually a reversal of the expected dementia trajectory but is an undiagnosed depression exaggerating the true level of functional decline associated with the dementia. The proactive identification and treatment of depressive symptoms may therefore increase the quality of life of some people with Down syndrome and dementia.
authors.affiliation: University of New England, Australia swark5@une.edu.au.
authors.forename: Stuart
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Wark
authors.affiliation: University of New England, Australia.
authors.forename: Rafat
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hussain
authors.affiliation: University of Sydney; University of New England, Australia.
authors.forename: Trevor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Parmenter
mesh_terms: D015897:Comorbidity; D003704:Dementia / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003863:Depression / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012075:Remission, Spontaneous
keywords: Down syndrome; case study; dementia; depression; functional assessment