Major Health Risks in Aging Persons With Intellectual Disabilities: An Overview of Recent Studies

TLDR

The review highlights increasing evidence that overweight and obesity are key health risk factors linked to multiple diseases in aging adults with intellectual disabilities. The authors systematically reviewed literature from 1999 onward on age‑related health risks—including cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, musculoskeletal, oral, and lifestyle factors such as overweight and obesity—in adults with intellectual disabilities. The review found that cardiovascular disease is as prevalent and a leading cause of death in adults with intellectual disabilities, digestive disorders are common, prevalence varies culturally, and healthier lifestyles, better nutrition, exercise, and surveillance can improve health outcomes.

Abstract

Abstract The authors examined the health‐related literature on aging and intellectual disabilities (ID) published since 1999, with specific focus on examining findings on age‐associated health risk factors, such as cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and musculoskeletal system health issues, and age‐related oral health. They also examined studies of lifestyle health risks, primarily the contributions to overweight or obesity. Although the review revealed varying differences in the prevalence of health risk factors, significant evidence is emerging that cardiovascular disease is as prevalent among people with ID and is as common a cause of death as in the general population. However, the review showed that the variations in prevalence were culturally dependent. Digestive system problems were evident with high occurrence rates of helicobacter pylori, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and constipation. The review revealed a growing body of work on health risk factors, such as overweight and obesity, which are often linked to the onset of a variety of diseases and impairing conditions. Healthier lifestyles, better nutrition and more exercise, and greater surveillance of health risks were seen as ways to improve the health status of aging adults with ID.