What Causes Down Syndrome Facial Features?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The most common live-born human aneuploidy is trisomy 21, which causes Down syndrome (DS).

Dosage imbalance of genes on chromosome 21 (Hsa21)

affects complex gene-regulatory interactions and alters development to produce a wide range of phenotypes, including characteristic facial dysmorphology.

What causes Down syndrome appearance?

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused

when abnormal cell division results in an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21

. This extra genetic material causes the developmental changes and physical features of Down syndrome.

What are the facial features of Down syndrome?


A flattened face, especially the bridge of the nose

.

Almond-shaped eyes that slant up

.

A short neck

.

Small ears

.

Can you have Down syndrome and not look like it?

Some of the children with

Mosaic Down syndrome

that we know do not actually look as if they have Down syndrome – the usual physical features are not obvious. This raises some important and difficult social issues and identity issues for both parents and children, which parents have discussed with us.

How does Down syndrome affect facial structure?

Some common characteristics present in people with the disorder include distinctive facial features, such as slanting eyes,

small chin, round face

, flat nasal bridge, Brushfield spots in the iris, abnormal outer ears, and flattened nose.

At what age is Down syndrome diagnosed?

The test is usually done at

15 to 22 weeks of pregnancy

. Integrated screening test. Your provider combines the results from the first trimester screening and the second trimester screening to better estimate the chances that your baby may have Down syndrome.

What is the mildest form of Down syndrome?

People with

mosaic Down syndrome

often, but not always, have fewer symptoms of Down syndrome because some cells are normal.

Can a Down syndrome child look normal?

People with

Down syndrome all look the same

. There are certain physical characteristics that can occur. People with Down syndrome can have all of them or none. A person with Down syndrome will always look more like his or her close family than someone else with the condition.

What are the behaviors of Down syndrome?

The most common mental health concerns include: general anxiety, repetitive and obsessive-compulsive behaviors;

oppositional, impulsive, and inattentive behaviors

; sleep related difficulties; depression; autism spectrum conditions; and neuropsychological problems characterized by progressive loss of cognitive skills.

Is Down syndrome a disability?

Down’s syndrome is

the commonest identifiable cause of intellectual disability

, accounting for around 15-20% of the intellectually disabled population. It is believed that people with Down’s syndrome have always existed.

What do Down syndrome eyes look like?

Unusually Shaped Eyes

An infant with down syndrome will commonly have

eyes that slant upward

, oftentimes with a fold of skin from the upper eyelid that covers one of the inner corners of the eye. This sign is more obvious than Brushfield spots but can be discerned in much the same way by looking into an infant’s eyes.

Can you have Down syndrome and be smart?

Julia Kinder (JK): The biggest misconceptions are that people with Down syndrome cannot learn or understand, and that they have low intelligence. I.Q. scores for people with Down syndrome vary, with the average cognitive delays being mild to moderate, not severe. In fact,

normal intelligence is possible

.

What is a mosaic baby?

When a baby is born with Down syndrome, the healthcare provider takes a blood sample to do a chromosome study. Mosaicism or mosaic Down syndrome

is diagnosed when there is a mixture of two types of cells

. Some have the usual 46 chromosomes and some have 47. Those cells with 47 chromosomes have an extra chromosome 21.

What are the 3 types of Down syndrome?

  • Trisomy 21. This is by far the most common type, where every cell in the body has three copies of chromosome 21 instead of two.
  • Translocation Down syndrome. In this type, each cell has part of an extra chromosome 21, or an entirely extra one. …
  • Mosaic Down syndrome.

Do Down syndrome babies have big heads?

Height and weight — Babies with Down syndrome are usually smaller than other babies, and they

have smaller heads

. They may also grow more slowly and may never reach the same heights that typical children do.

Why do Down syndrome stick their tongue out?

They have poor muscle tone

Since the tongue is a muscle, and is controlled by other muscles in the mouth,

decreased muscle tone

can cause the tongue to stick out more than usual. Several conditions may cause decreased muscle tone, such as Down syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, and cerebral palsy.

Diane Mitchell
Author
Diane Mitchell
Diane Mitchell is an animal lover and trainer with over 15 years of experience working with a variety of animals, including dogs, cats, birds, and horses. She has worked with leading animal welfare organizations. Diane is passionate about promoting responsible pet ownership and educating pet owners on the best practices for training and caring for their furry friends.