Paper-Pencil Diagnostic Instruments For Dementia In People With Intellectual Disability

Life expectancy is increasing both in the general population and population of people with intellectual disabilities. As they age they also face age-related problems, including dementia. People with Down syndrome are specially at risk because they not only develop dementia more often but also at younger age.

In this population diagnosis of dementia can be difficult, as the signs of dementia often stay unnoticed. In addition the population is very variable which makes it difficult to establish a single instrument. From this perspective it is necessary that new or already existing instruments are developed for the population in the name of early and appropriate diagnose.

There is a various number of existing diagnostic instruments for dementia in people with intellectual disability, but research show that not necessary all agree on each other. In order to ensure accurate diagnosis and further adequate care, there is a need to establish a reliable and accurate instrument.

In most cases diagnostic instruments for dementia in people with intellectual disability are questionnaires and rating scales. In the group of rating scales we can include ABS and CAMDEX-DS (also CAMCOG-DS) and in group of questionnaries instruments ADD, CLD, CDR, DSQIID, DLD and MMPI-168(L). Instruments CAMDEX-DS, CLD, CDR, mCRT, DSQIID, DLD, TSI and WDTIM test exclusively dementia, while ABS, ADD, DMTS, MMPI-168(L), mini PAS-ADD and PCFT are basically designed to diagnose various psychiatric disorders.