AGING AND MENTAL-RETARDATION

The increasing need for fundamental knowledge on the incidence, preval ence and distribution of conditions associated with aging among indivi duals with mental retardation is underscored by reference to several i mportant demographic and epidemiological studies that have appeared in the past year's literature. With the general trend moving away from i nstitutional care toward the provision of supports within natural comm unities, there has been a corresponding growth of interest in the heal th and medical status and the best means of providing healthcare for o lder people with mental retardation. This is also mirrored by the grow th in studies of dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and other age-associat ed conditions, particularly as they affect individuals with Down's syn drome. In this review, we examine these studies and offer comments on the growth of an international network of researchers and practitioner s who are committed to furthering knowledge in the area of aging and m ental retardation.