Prevalence of swallowing difficulties and associated factors in older people with intellectual disabilities.

Background: We investigated the prevalence of swallowing difficulties and associated factors in people with intellectual disability.

Methods: We included people aged 50+ receiving care for people with intellectual disabilities. The Dysphagia Disorder Survey (DDS) was used to assess swallowing difficulties.

The use of a frailty index to predict adverse health outcomes (falls, fractures, hospitalization, medication use, comorbid conditions) in people with intellectual disabilities.

Frailty in older people can be seen as the increased likelihood of future negative health outcomes. Lifelong disabilities in people with intellectual disabilities (ID) may not only influence their frailty status but also the consequences. Here, we report the relation between frailty and adverse health outcomes in older people with ID (50 years and over).

Bone quality in older adults with intellectual disabilities.

Although osteoporosis is a progressive bone disease leading to increased risk of fracture, it has rarely been investigated on a large scale in older people with intellectual disabilities (ID). In this study, 768 persons with ID (aged ≥ 50 years) were measured with quantitative ultrasound to determine the prevalence of low bone quality. The association of low bone quality with patient characteristics, mobility, physical activity, body mass index (BMI), prior fractures, anticonvulsant drug use, intake of calcium, and vitamin D3 levels was also investigated.

Prevalence and associated factors of sarcopenia in older adults with intellectual disabilities.

Sarcopenia is defined as a syndrome characterised by progressive and generalised loss of skeletal muscle mass and strength. It has hardly been studied in older people with intellectual disabilities (ID). In this study 884 persons with borderline to profound ID aged 50 years and over, were investigated to determine the prevalence of sarcopenia in this group.

Frailty and disability in older adults with intellectual disabilities: results from the healthy ageing and intellectual disability study.

Objectives: To obtain first insight into prevalence and correlates of frailty in older people with intellectual disability (ID).

Design: Population-based cross-sectional study in persons using formal ID services.

Setting: Three Dutch care provider services.

Study healthy ageing and intellectual disabilities: recruitment and design.

Problems encountered in epidemiologic health research in older adults with intellectual disabilities (ID) are how to recruit a large-scale sample of participants and how to measure a range of health variables in such a group. This cross-sectional study into healthy ageing started with founding a consort of three large care providers with a total client population of 2322 clients of 50 years and over, and two academic institutes. This consort made formal agreements about a research infrastructure and research themes: (1) physical activity and fitness, (2) nutrition and nutritional state, and (3) mood and anxiety.