Researcher ORCID Identifier
0009-0007-6381-9346
Graduation Year
2024
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Department
Neuroscience
Reader 1
Elise Ferree
Reader 2
Thomas Borowski
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
© 2024 Rhea Mistry
Abstract
Down syndrome (DS) is a chromosomal genetic condition that impacts the development of the body and brain. The life expectancy of individuals with DS has drastically improved over the decades, increasing from 9 years in 1929 to 25 years in 1983 and further reaching 60 years by 2002. Individuals with DS face a variety of prominent co-occurring health conditions that are subject to change over time, including cognitive, visual, and hearing impairments, sleep apnea, cardiovascular defects, Down syndrome regression disorder, and dementia. Despite this increase in life span, DS is still most familiar to pediatric care providers, resulting in healthcare systems and clinicians being inadequately equipped to address the needs of aging DS populations, leading to disparities in care for elders with DS. My paper highlights healthcare disparities, emphasizes the need for further clinical research, and reviews existing approaches to bridging them. I then propose a study to provide board-certified physicians with updated, research-based insights on aging DS populations, with the training administered to doctors through the Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements. This proposal not only aims to improve care for aging adults with DS but also advocates for dismantling non-inclusive structures in healthcare, benefiting a broader range of individuals with disabilities and vulnerable populations.
Recommended Citation
Mistry, Rhea, "Addressing Healthcare Disparities Faced by Aging Down Syndrome Populations" (2024). Pitzer Senior Theses. 201.
https://scholarship.claremont.edu/pitzer_theses/201
Included in
Behavioral Medicine Commons, Community Health Commons, Education Commons, Geriatrics Commons, Medical Anatomy Commons, Medical Education Commons, Medical Humanities Commons, Mental Disorders Commons, Neurology Commons, Neurosciences Commons, Other Medical Specialties Commons, Other Psychiatry and Psychology Commons, Pediatrics Commons, Preventive Medicine Commons, Psychiatric and Mental Health Commons, Public Health Education and Promotion Commons, Social Justice Commons, Sociology Commons