Dementia in people with severe/profound intellectual (and multiple) disabilities: applicability of items in dementia screening instruments for people with intellectual disabilities

Diagnosing dementia in people with severe/profound intellectual (and multiple) disabilities (SPI(M)D) is complex. Whereas existing dementia screening instruments as a whole are unsuitable for this population, a number of individual items may apply. Therefore, this study aimed to identify applicable items in existing dementia screening instruments. Informant interviews about 40 people with SPI(M)D were conducted to identify applicable items in the Dementia Scale for Down Syndrome, Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms of Dementia in Down Syndrome II scale, Dementia Questionnaire for persons with Mental Retardation and Social competence Rating scale for people with Intellectual Disabilities. Among 193 items, 101 items were found applicable, categorized in β5 domains: behavioral and psychological functioning (60 items), cognitive functioning (25), motor functioning (6), activities of daily living (5) and medical comorbidities (5). Identifying applicable items for people with SPI(M)D is an essential step in developing a dedicated dementia screening instrument for this population.

Source: Wissing, M.B.G., Dijkstra, R., van der Wal, I.A., Grootendorst, E.S., Hobbelen, J.S.M., van der Putten, A.A.J., De Deyn, P.P., Waninge, A., Dekker, A.D. Dementia in people with severe/profound intellectual (and multiple) disabilities: applicability of items in dementia screening instruments for people with intellectual disabilities. Journal of Mental Health Research in Intellectual Disabilities, 2022, 15(4), 322-363. https://doi.org/10.1080/19315864.2022.2111737