Intellectual disability and nutrition‐related health

Abstract

Intellectual disability (ID) is a condition that affects approximately 1% of the population (Maulik et al, 2011). The numbers may differ across nations, owing to different systems and diagnosis entries or lack of such, but usually range between 0.6 and 3% (Stromme & Valvatne, 1998). Persons with ID are a heterogeneous group with different diagnoses and different levels of intellectual ability. These range from profound (IQ < 20) and serious ID (IQ 20-34) to moderate (IQ 35-49) and light ID (IQ 50-69); this roughly translates into the intellectual capacity of children between 3-12 years of age. More than 75% of persons with ID have the mild form and their intellectual capacity and potential may be underestimated in some cases if IQ is the only diagnostic criteria. However, the range in itself is an important factor to take into account when addressing nutrition and health issues. It is further important to recognize that ID is also a feature of several rare disorders, and many disorders not yet identified, adding to the complexity of this group. EMBO Mol Med (2020) 12: e12899 G enerally, there are several common characteristics among the diverse phenotypic presentations of ID that impact health and nutrition:

Effect of a Method for Developing Communication Skills on Physical Activity in Children With Intellectual Disabilities

“…The two groups were equivalent in terms of their ID. The background of these children was rather similar and was based on the inclusion criteria: all of them were citizens of Armenia, their medical histories did not contain any registered disorders, they had the same moderate degree of ID (IQ score = 35-49) [29], they were able to independently follow an exercise intervention, and they had attended structured physical education classes in the previous three months. The children with ID were excluded from the study if they had other comorbidities (neurological, cardiac, respiratory, or musculoskeletal), had experienced a trauma in the previous six months, had significant cognitive impairment (or psychiatric conditions), or if they have taken part in any behavioral, physical or other type of therapies.…”

Exome Sequencing in 200 Intellectual Disability/Autistic Patients: New Candidates and Atypical Presentations

“…Intellectual disability (ID) is characterised by significant limitations in intellectual functioning (reasoning, learning, problem-solving) and adaptive behaviour (conceptual, social, and practical skills) that originate before the age of 18 [ 1 ]. Affecting 1–3% of the world′s population, ID represents an important socio-economic problem in healthcare [ 2 , 3 ]. ID is characterized by limitations in cognitive functions that manifest as an intelligence quotient (IQ) below 70.…”