People with IDD who have lived 30-50 years with a disability are experiencing new health concerns.
- Syndrome and Gender Related Conditions
- People with IDD now have health concerns related to disability, aging, and aging with a disability.
- Men and women with IDD who have syndrome-related conditions may be predisposed to certain health conditions related to their type of disability.
Down Syndrome: Hypothyroidism and Alzheimer’s Disease
Fragile X: Heart Problems
Prader-Willi: Cardiovascular Disease and Diabetes
Cerebral Palsy: Reduced Mobility, Bone Demineralization
Epilepsy: Osteoporosis
- Where People Live Matters
- Social support and environment influences our ability to make health choices that impact health status.
- Caregiver education enhances health behaviors.
- Caregiver attitudes increase healthy food choices and physical activity.
- Caregiver encouragement improves lifestyle choices.
- Access to Health Services
- Access Matters: Factors Impacting Health Promotion and Healthcare
- Programmatic Infrastructure.
- Attitudes (e.g., health care professionals acquire basic disability education).
- Physical Accommodations.
- Communication Accommodations.
- Economic Resources.
- Health Literacy.
- Health Behaviors
Individual health behaviors can prevent the onset of the following chronic conditions:- Cancer
- Diabetes
- Heart disease
- Obesity
- Stroke