BEHAVIORAL CAPABILITIES AND MORTALITY RISK IN ADULTS WITH AND WITHOUTDOWN-SYNDROME

Among adults with mental retardation, mortality rates for those with D own syndrome are higher than for those without Down syndrome. We studi ed age-related changes in functioning and their relation to subsequent mortality in adults with mental retardation. Among people without Dow n syndrome, recent loss of basic skills was associated with substantia lly elevated mortality rates. This was not so in the Down syndrome gro up, however. Adults with Down syndrome tended to experience regression in adaptive behavior earlier than did those without Down syndrome. In cidence rates in the two groups diverged subsequent to age 40. Adults without Down syndrome, however, did also tend to regress when older.