Recognising and assessing for dementia in people with learning disabilities

People with learning disabilities are living longer and are therefore at risk of developing age-related conditions such as dementia. They also tend to develop dementia at a younger age than the general population. However, people with learning disabilities experience a range of health inequalities and barriers to accessing healthcare services, including dementia assessment and diagnostic services. Furthermore, the early signs and symptoms of dementia in this group tend to differ from those in the general population. It is vital, therefore, that those working with people with learning disabilities are able to recognise the early signs and symptoms of dementia in this population and know how to refer the person for assessment.This article discusses dementia in people with learning disabilities, including early signs and symptoms, and uses a case study to explore an ‘ideal’ dementia diagnostic pathway for this population.