title: Characteristics of adults with down syndrome: prevalence of age-related conditions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In the last decades, life expectancy of persons with Down syndrome (DS) has dramatically increased and it is estimated that they will be living as long as the general population within a generation. Despite being included among the progeroid syndromes, because of the presence of features typically observed in older adults, DS is still regarded as a disease of pediatric interest. Because limited knowledge is available on the clinical characteristics of adults with DS, this study aimed to assess clinical and non-clinical features of this population and to describe similarities to the geriatric population.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this study, we described 60 adults with DS evaluated at the Day Hospital of the Geriatric Department of the Policlinico A. Gemelli, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore in Rome. Individuals were assessed through a standardized protocol.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean age of study participants was 38 years (range, 18-58 years) and 42 (70.0%) were women. Geriatric conditions were highly prevalent: severe cognitive impairment was diagnosed in 39 (65.0%) participants, behavioral symptoms were present in 25 (41.7%), and functional impairment in 23 (38.3%). Six (10.0%) participants lived in institutions and 11 (18.3%) were diagnosed as obese. The mean number of drugs used was 2.4; use of psychotropic drugs was highly prevalent. The most common chronic diseases were thyroid problems (44, 73.3%), followed by mood disorders (19, 31.7%), osteoporosis (18, 30.0%), and cardiac problems (10, 16.7%). Geriatric conditions and chronic diseases were more prevalent among participants aged ≥40 years.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Several similarities between older adults and adults with DS were observed. Comorbidities, geriatric conditions, cognitive and functional deficits, and social problems are highly prevalent in both populations, contributing to the high complexity of these patients' assessment and treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Centro Medicina dell'Invecchiamento, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Angelo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Carfì
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Centro Medicina dell'Invecchiamento, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Antocicco
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Centro Medicina dell'Invecchiamento, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Vincenzo
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Brandi
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Centro Medicina dell'Invecchiamento, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Camilla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cipriani
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Centro Medicina dell'Invecchiamento, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fiore
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Centro Medicina dell'Invecchiamento, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Donatella
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Mascia
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Centro Medicina dell'Invecchiamento, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Settanni
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Centro Medicina dell'Invecchiamento, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Davide L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Vetrano
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Centro Medicina dell'Invecchiamento, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bernabei
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, Centro Medicina dell'Invecchiamento, Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore , Rome , Italy.
authors.forename: Graziano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Onder
keywords: Down syndrome; aging; geriatric assessment; geriatric syndromes; multimorbidity; premature