Polypharmacy - the use of multiple medicines - is common among older people with intellectual disabilities, new Irish research has revealed.

According to the findings, almost one-third of older people with intellectual disabilities use between five and nine medicines, while one in five use 10 or more.

TILDA is an ongoing study of people over the age of 50 in Ireland by researchers in Trinity College Dublin. These latest findings come from the IDS (Intellectual Disability Supplement)-TILDA study, which is the first study of its kind in Europe.

According to the researchers, life expectancy for people with intellectual disabilities has been improving over the years and by 2020, the number of people with these disabilities who are aged 65 and older is predicted to double from estimates made in the 1990s.

However, they insisted that while polypharmacy can be essential for maintaining good health, there is also clear evidence that it is linked with increased prescribing errors and an increased prevalence of drug-related adverse effects.

The study found that those living in an institutional setting and reporting a mental health or neurological condition were highly likely to be taking multiple medications.

The most commonly used medicines were antipsychotics, followed by anti-epileptic drugs and laxatives.

"Our findings highlight that polypharmacy is commonplace for older adults with intellectual disabilities in Ireland, reflecting the high prevalence of multiple chronic conditions experienced by people with intellectual disabilities. Comprehensive, regular reviews of medicines use are essential, given that polypharmacy may place older adults with intellectual disabilities at risk of side-effects," commented the study's lead author, Dr Maire O'Dwyer.

Meanwhile, according to the study's co-author, Dr Martin Henman, it is essential that education and information about polypharmacy is made available in an accessible format to those affected , their carers and healthcare professionals.

"This study provides the first evidence that can be used as the basis for the development of guidelines and education to help healthcare professionals, especially GPs and community pharmacists in primary care who are called upon to care for older people with ID, as more of them begin to live in the community," he said.

Details of these findings are published in the journal, BMJ Open.