International clinician perspectives on pandemic-associated stress in supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Background: People living with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) have suffered disproportionately in health outcomes and general well-being during the COVID-19 pandemic. There is emerging evidence of increased psychological distress. Increased strain has also fallen on clinicians managing the psychological needs of people with IDD, in the context of learning new technologies, staff shortages, reduced services and paused training opportunities.

Medical, Cognitive, and Psychiatric Characteristics in a Large Israeli Cohort of Individuals with Williams Syndrome.

Background: Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurogenetic syndrome characterized by a variety of medical conditions and cognitive deficits along with distinct psychiatric and behavioral characteristics. To the best of our knowledge, no studies to date have comprehensively reported the prevalence of medical, cognitive deficits, and psychiatric disorders in one cohort of people with WS in one study.

Objectives: To detail the prevalence of the various clinical features of WS in a large nationwide Israeli cohort.

Impact of cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine on survival in adults with Down syndrome and dementia: clinical cohort study.

Background: There is little evidence to guide pharmacological treatment in adults with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. Aims To investigate the effect of cholinesterase inhibitors or memantine on survival and function in adults with Down syndrome and Alzheimer's disease.

Method: This was a naturalistic longitudinal follow-up of a clinical cohort of 310 people with Down syndrome diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease collected from specialist community services in England.

Predictors of Age of Diagnosis and Survival of Alzheimer's Disease in Down Syndrome.

Background: People with Down syndrome (DS) are an ultra-high risk population for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Understanding the factors associated with age of onset and survival in this population could highlight factors associated with modulation of the amyloid cascade.

Objective: This study aimed to establish the typical age at diagnosis and survival associated with AD in DS and the risk factors associated with these.

Assessing Specific Cognitive Deficits Associated with Dementia in Older Adults with Down Syndrome: Use and Validity of the Arizona Cognitive Test Battery (ACTB).

Background: Down syndrome is associated with specific cognitive deficits. Alongside this, older adults with Down syndrome are a high risk group for dementia. The Arizona Cognitive Test Battery (ACTB), a cognitive assessment battery specifically developed for use with individuals with Down syndrome, has been proposed for use as outcome measures for clinical trials in this population.

Dementia diagnostic criteria in Down syndrome.

Objective: Dementia is a common clinical presentation among older adults with Down syndrome. The presentation of dementia in Down syndrome differs compared with typical Alzheimer's disease. The performance of manualised dementia criteria in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 and Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-IV-Text Revision (DSM-IV-TR) is uncertain in this population.

Assessing the need for a specialist service for people with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems living in Israel: a qualitative study.

Background: It is well established that people with intellectual disabilities are at higher risk of developing mental illnesses. This study aimed to assess the need for a specialized service for people (children and adults) with intellectual disabilities and mental health problems living in Israel.

Methods: Our research question was: is there a need for a specialist mental health service for people with intellectual disabilities living in Israel and, if so, what type of service would be most appropriate? We conducted a qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 14 major stakeholders to identify key themes in response to our research question.

Challenging behavior and related factors in people with intellectual disability living in residential care centers in Israel.

Introduction: Adults with intellectual disabilities have higher rates of mental ill-health and problem behaviors than the general population.

Method: In this study, we present data on trends in challenging behavior in residential care centers in Israel from 1998 to 2008 and further data on trends in employment of psychiatrists from 1998 to 2009 and psychotropic medication use from 1998 to 2008. Data was collected from annual questionnaires sent out to all residential care centers in Israel, from the Office of the Medical Director, Division for Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities, Ministry of Social Affairs and Social Services.

Older adults with intellectual disability.

Purpose Of Review: Improvements in health and social care for people with intellectual disability have led to a dramatic increase in the life expectancy of this population, resulting in a large and growing number of older adults with intellectual disability. They are at risk of age-related mental disorders such as dementia and continue to present with high rates of mental illness.

Recent Findings: Recent research with older adults with intellectual disability has included physical health issues that may affect mental well being, and biological and clinical features of dementia in people with Down syndrome.