James, Tiffeny ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5706-1467, Breau, Genevieve and Clark, Andrew (2026) Supporting older adults with intellectual disabilities and comorbid dementia to live in the community: a call for clarity, guidance, and action. Aging and Mental Health. pp. 1-5. ISSN 1360-7863 (Print), 1364-6915 (Online) (doi:10.1080/13607863.2026.2726338)

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Abstract

Intellectual disabilities, which the World Health Organization (Citation2023) defines as a reduced ability to learn new/complex information and learn new skills, diagnosed before adulthood, is an international health concern. A systematic review estimated the global prevalence of intellectual disabilities to be ∼1–2% of the adult population (Nair et al., Citation2022). For over 70 years, life expectancy for people with intellectual disabilities has increased: many people now live into their 60s-70s (e.g. Bittles et al., Citation2002). As these populations age, so does the numbers of people at risk of developing age-related diseases like dementia. People with Down’s Syndrome are at high risk of dementia due to genetic abnormalities, with over half of adults with Down’s Syndrome over the age of 65 also having a diagnosis of dementia (Bayen et al., Citation2018). Among adults with intellectual disabilities who do not have Down’s syndrome, the prevalence of dementia may be as high as 9% (Takenoshita et al., Citation2023) compared to 4.2% of the general population (Office for Health Improvement & Disparities, Citation2024). Concurrently, people with intellectual disabilities are increasingly living in the community, following deinstitutionalisation in many countries (Mansell et al., Citation2007). While policies may promote ‘aging in place’ (defined as remaining in one’s own home and community for as long as possible), this principle has not been translated into practice for people with intellectual disabilities and dementia. In this editorial, we argue that the absence of tailored, evidence-informed guidance to enable aging in place for people with intellectual disabilities and dementia is an oversight.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	dementia, ageing, social care, learning disabilities, community
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races R Medicine > R Medicine (General)
Faculty / School / Research Centre / Research Group:	Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development Faculty of Education, Health & Human Sciences > Institute for Lifecourse Development > Centre for Inequalities
Last Modified:	24 Sep 2026 10:45
URI:	https://gala.gre.ac.uk/id/eprint/54426

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