Lake, Jeanne Squires2019-04-112019-04-112019-05-01http://hdl.handle.net/2097/39483Humankind gains of greater longevity increase greater numbers of aging people worldwide, including those with Intellectual and Developmental Disorders (I/DD) (Alvarez, 2015). When an I/DD is present in an individual, and age-related disease (such as dementia) is also diagnosed, it is often referred to as a comorbid diagnosis. Comorbid diagnosis simply means that there is more than a single disease or condition present in one body at the same time. Diagnosis of a comorbid I/DD + dementia can be complicated and needs to be based on previously existing levels of cognitive disabilities in the individual with I/DD. Establishing an individualized record of peak performance baseline functioning at age 25-35 builds a threshold for measuring future age-related decline in these individuals with I/DD. Baseline function can differentiate if a newly appearing symptom in an individual with I/DD is a normal aging associated process, or a disease-related-decline. Through a literature review, informed by research based scholarship, program based publications, and professional sources (including professional websites) on topics of normal aging, I/DD, AD and dementia, this project will 1) describe prevalence/incidence studies of comorbid I/DD + dementia diagnosis in locations around the world, including challenges and conflicts of the research, 2) explore non-disease-related, age-associated patterns common in the I/DD community, 3) examine common indications of disease-related cognitive decline of individuals with I/DD + dementia, 4) discuss support frameworks available for comorbid (I/DD + dementia) individuals and caregivers, 5) suggest where to look for support networks that can assist caregivers and family members, post-diagnosis, in best practices for the comorbid individual, and themselves, as caregivers.en-US© the author. This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/AgingDementiaIntellectually disabledDevelopmentally delayedReport