Rate of Decline in Social and Cognitive Abilities in Dementing Individuals with Down's Syndrome and Other Learning Disabilities

Abstract

Sixteen clients with learning disabilities, 8 Down's syndrome (DS), 8 non-Down's syndrome (NDS), diagnosed with dementia, were assessed using specially selected neuropsychological assessment tools at two time points separated by six months. DS individuals showed decline in cognitive abilities (p < .005; 1-tailed) (hypothesis 1); NDS showed decline in cognitive abilities (p < .01; 1 -tailed; p < .005; 1 -tailed) (hypothesis 2); DS individuals showed decline in social abilities (p < .005; 1-tailed) (hypothesis 3), but the NDS did not (hypothesis 4); No significant differences were found in the ability score changes of the two groups (hypotheses 5 & 6). Findings (1-3) support previous studies with participants over 12 months. Hence, the rate of change in these abilities is faster than previously suspected.

Key Words:

• Cognitive ability
• dementia
• Down's syndrome
• learning disability
• neuropsychological assessment
• rate of decline
• social ability