Although Down Syndrome is the most common genetic cause of intellectual disability, it has received less research attention than autism and other less common disorders. Thanks to advances in medical care, most especially corrective surgery for heart defects, life expectancy for individuals with Down Syndrome has increased to 50 to 60 years. Unfortunately, over 50% of adults with Down Syndrome develop dementia by age 60. This makes age-related dementia in older adults with Down Syndrome an urgent public health concern.
