Aging and intellectual disability in São Paulo, Brazil

Aim: The aim wa to evaluate possible early ageing signals/symptoms in adults with intellectual disability (ID) who attend day-care facilities in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Methods: A survey of caregivers of people with ID (mild/moderate, age 35-60 years) was performed focussing on daily activities, neurological conditions, psychic/psychiatric conditions, and leisure. Changes during the last five years were analyzed. Results: 181 questionnaires were completed (53% men, mean age 46.4 years, SD = 8.7; 22% had Down syndrome). Most (55.2%) attended special institutions in the past, and 36.5% were enrolled in regular classes; 19.3% were working and 41.3% received social welfare. Most had never had alcohol beverages (74.6%) or tobacco (92.8%). In the last 5 years there was decline in daily activities: walking (27%), swallowing (14.3%) and speech (10.5%) as well as in recent (11.6%) and late memory (5%). Psychiatric abnormalities were referred: as apathy (21.7%), humor oscillations (24.9%), anxiety and impulsivity (26.5%) and refusal to outside activities (10%). \ud Conclusion: Although having longer life expecfancy middle age adults with ill stili face low formal job recruitment and social welfare in developing countries. Despite healthy habits, physical, neurologic and psychiatric impairment were observed during last five years with approximately 20% indicating some degree of possible early ageing.Apresentado no 4th International IASSIDD Europe Regional Congress, 14-17 July, 2014, Vienn