摘要:

The major research data and findings related to aging in the general population, as well as aging among persons with developmental disabilities, are discussed. Topics addressed include definitions of developmental disabilities and prevalence and mortality rates, as well as the effects of aging on the senses, the neuromusculoskeletal system, and the cardiopulmonary system. Discussions are also included on the clinical implications of these changes in the aging individual with a developmental disability.

ISSN:0882-7524    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Little is understood about how the aging process affects persons with cerebral palsy. Adults with cerebral palsy want to anticipate the type, severity, and course of age-associated changes that are likely to occur as they grow older. There is little information available about how the aging process, age-related diseases, and the existence of a lifelong disability impact on the life and functional ability of persons with cerebral palsy. A national colloquium addressing these issues brought together health care practitioners, researchers, service providers, and persons with cerebral palsy. Recommendations were made to make health care and health care resources more available and accessible, to develop best practice guidelines, to determine effective strategies for prevention of secondary conditions, and to make information available to persons with cerebral palsy as well as to health care and service providers.

ISSN:0882-7524    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Acute paralytic poliomyelitis causes diffuse injury to the motor neuron pool. The clinical picture is determined by the extent of motor neuron loss; however, clinically unaffected segments may have suffered substantial viral injury. The individual that suffered acute paralytic poliomyelitis carries the burden of a depleted motor neuron pool and often a residual biomechanical deficit into aging. This interaction often results in late effects of new muscle weakness, prominent fatigue, and sometimes new muscle atrophy with aging, called the postpolio syndrome. Cardiovascular and conventional muscle strengthening exercises must be initiated with caution in the patient with postpolio syndrome. Previously injured and altered motor units may have chronic relative overuse. Training will further stress these units and may accelerate declining performance. The goal of exercise and muscle training should be carefully considered in the postpolio patient. Nonspecific muscle strengthening exercise is generally undesirable unless applied to clearly unaffected or only minimally affected muscle groups. Exercise for cardiovascular fitness is more desirable and carries less risk of exacerbating overuse if applied with caution. When exercise is initiated, it should be punctuated by rest periods, and the intensity must not exceed a level that produces pain or more than transient fatigue.

ISSN:0882-7524    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

It is generally believed that individuals encounter functional decline associated with aging. Traditional definitions of function focus on physiologic organ and body system performance or on the ability to perform activities of daily living. The authors propose to expand the concept of function to include adapting to one's environment and the changes brought on by aging in all spheres of life—physiologic, psychologic, and social. Data from a longitudinal study of aging with spinal cord injury highlight the interrelationship of medical and nonmedical variables in predicting outcomes in these life spheres. Application of a global thesis of function to the general aging population is described.

ISSN:0882-7524    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

The life expectancy of people with mental retardation has dramatically increased over the past several decades. However, relatively little attention has been paid to the phenomenon of aging in this population, largely due to the historic fact that few of these people survived to become senior citizens. A rapidly expanding population of older adults with lifelong histories of atypical development may require unique patterns of services. Vulnerability to Alzheimer's disease is among the specific concerns that will need to be addressed. Because adults with Down syndrome exhibit many indications of accelerated aging, including a substantially increased risk for Alzheimer's disease, it is particularly important to understand their patterns of aging. Literature relevant to these issues is reviewed.

ISSN:0882-7524    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Healthy adults with Down syndrome (DS) with mild/moderate mental retardation (MR) were compared to adults with MR from other causes on the WISC-R. Adults with DS <45 years of age did better on the performance subtests than on the verbal subtests. Among the participants with DS the classic aging pattern was observed in which adults 45 years of age had a selective decline on the performance subtests compared to younger participants with DS, while verbal subtest scores remained unchanged. Adults with MR from other causes did not show the same age-associated differences within the same age range. It appears that adults with DS show the effects of aging within their area of relative cognitive strength, that is, in nonverbal abilities. For this group, the effects of normal aging may not only occur earlier, but may also have a greater impact on their overall functioning than for their peers.

ISSN:0882-7524    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

摘要:

Aging adults with developmental disabilities are subject to the same losses in functional ability as typically aging adults. Cognitive delays and poor ability to respond to change because of cognitive rigidity make their rehabilitation even more difficult. Occupational therapy, with its traditional emphasis on functional ability, is able to modify activities and the environment to accommodate these problems and facilitate functional outcomes. With its holistic approach, occupational therapy promotes both the physical and mental health of this population.

ISSN:0882-7524    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0882-7524    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID

ISSN:0882-7524    

出版商:OVID    

年代:1998

数据来源: OVID