Down syndrome is associated with increased risks of some health problems , including heart defects, hearing loss, weakened immune systems, poor eyesight and a heightened risk of early-onset dementia. Many of these problems are treatable given knowledgeable and well-resourced medical care.
How does Down syndrome affect a person's life?
Kids with Down syndrome usually have trouble learning and are slower to learn how to talk and take care of themselves. But despite their challenges, kids with Down syndrome can go to regular schools, make friends, enjoy life, and get jobs when they're older.
Why is Down syndrome interesting facts?
One in every 691 babies in the U.S. is born with Down syndrome, making it the most common chromosomal condition. There are more than 400,000 people living with Down syndrome in the U.S. In 1983, the average life expectancy of a person with Down syndrome was a mere 25-years-old.
What is unique about Down syndrome?
A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are low muscle tone, small stature, an upward slant to the eyes , and a single deep crease across the center of the palm – although each person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees, or not at all.
Can a child with Down syndrome 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.
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.
Can Down syndrome be prevented?
Prevention. There's no way to prevent Down syndrome . If you're at high risk of having a child with Down syndrome or you already have one child with Down syndrome, you may want to consult a genetic counselor before becoming pregnant.
What gender is Down syndrome most common in?
Down syndrome appears to be more common among boys than girls , the study indicates. The condition is also seen more frequently in Hispanic children at birth, though the number of these children appears to level off with that of white children as they age. Black children appear less likely to have Down syndrome.
Who is the oldest person with Down syndrome?
Sprightly Georgie Wildgust puts his longevity down to a love of dancing and an active social life surrounded by a strong network of family and friends. Strictly Come Dancing fan Georgie is now believed to be one of the oldest people in the world with Down's syndrome and the oldest in the country.
Can stress cause Down syndrome?
Down syndrome, which arises from a chromosome defect , is likely to have a direct link with the increase in stress levels seen in couples during the time of conception, say Surekha Ramachandran, founder of Down Syndrome Federation of India, who has been studying about the same ever since her daughter was diagnosed with ...
How is Down syndrome detected?
Diagnostic tests that can identify Down syndrome include: Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) . In CVS, cells are taken from the placenta and used to analyze the fetal chromosomes. This test is typically performed in the first trimester, between 10 and 13 weeks of pregnancy.
What are the symptoms of Down syndrome in pregnancy?
- Flat face with an upward slant to the eyes.
- Short neck.
- Abnormally shaped or small ears.
- Protruding tongue.
- Small head.
- Deep crease in the palm of the hand with relatively short fingers.
- White spots in the iris of the eye.
Do Down syndrome babies cry differently?
Just like any baby, infants who have Down syndrome will sometimes be fussy . The temperament of a baby with Down syndrome is not usually any different from the temperament of any other baby.
What are the behaviors of Down syndrome?
A young child with Down syndrome that presents with persistent oppositional, impulsive, disruptive, irritable, and aggressive behaviors should be considered under a possible mood disorder.
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.
What is life expectancy for Down syndrome?
Over 6,000 babies are born with Down syndrome in the United States each year. As recently as 1983, a person with Down syndrome lived to be only 25 years old on average. Today, the average life expectancy of a person with Down syndrome is nearly 60 years and continuing to climb .
