September 25, Okayama Prefecture (Japan ) : Intellectual disability is thought to be associated with an increased risk of dementia and its onset is influenced by both inherited and acquired factors. A lower cognitive reserve-the capacity for thinking developed through learning and deliberate mental effort-increases the risk of dementia in the general population.
The possibility of a shorter education lifespan and reduced intellectual capacity is likely to lead to dementia among people with ID.
The presence of dementia among individuals with ID without Down syndrome in comparison to the general population is uncertain, and the risk variables that affect dementia risk are not fully comprehended.
A recent study has revealed the prevalence of dementia and discovered the risk factors that can lead to dementia among people with ID in Japan. Professor ShintaroTakenoshita, assistant professor of neuropsychiatry at Okayama University Hospital, Japan, led the team. The motivation of the group to pursue the study is unknown, she said.
The survey found that ID, educational background, and comorbidities were widespread across 1,831 individuals in residential treatment facilities across Japan. The relevant information was collected by interviewing caregivers of all the participants and a direct examination was performed-using clinical criteria for dementia and neurocognitive disorders-for participants who were suspected of having cognitive decline.
This finding is expected to improve dementia screening and improve the support and medical care for people with ID. It's important to note that some risk factors can be modifiable. However, depending on a patient's profile, providing appropriate education, preventing head trauma and stroke, and making hypertension and depression drugs readily available in patients with ID could be the first steps in preventing the onset of dementia in people with ID.
s bias by surveying participants from a broad geographical range. This implication that the risk factors we identified are reliable targets for designing intervention measures intended to minimize the risk of dementia in people with ID.
As a result, Dr.Takenoshita is confident that future studies can be based on the scope of his team's work. As the understanding of dementia evolves, public health recommendations in medical policies can be developed specifically for individuals diagnosed with ID. As such, the insights on the modifiable risk factors can potentially help detect the onset of dementia and ensure that individuals with ID do not miss out on treatment orinterventions that are easily available.