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Down Syndrome Page

Definition:

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder affecting 1 in every 733 babies born today.  Human cells normally have 23 chromosomes.

Down syndrome occurs during cell division of the 21^st chromosomes. There are three genetic variations of abnormalities that can occur.

�                  Trisomy 21. More than 90 percent of cases of Down syndrome are caused by trisomy 21. A child with trisomy 21 has three copies of chromosome 21 � instead of the usual two copies � in all of his or her cells. This form of Down syndrome is caused by abnormal cell division during the development of the sperm cell or the egg cell.

�                  Mosaic Down syndrome. In this rare form of Down syndrome, children have some cells with an extra copy of chromosome 21, but not all. This mosaic of normal and abnormal cells is caused by abnormal cell division after fertilization.

�        Translocation Down syndrome. Down syndrome can also occur when part of chromosome 21 becomes attached (translocated) onto another chromosome, before or at conception. Children with translocation Down syndrome have the usual two copies of chromosome 21, but they also have additional material from chromosome 21 stuck to the translocated chromosome. This form of Down syndrome is uncommon

Down syndrome has no known  environmental  and  behavioral causes...and  although  it  is genetic it is not normally inherited

Signs and Symptoms:

  A few of the common physical traits of Down syndrome are

 ~ low muscle tone

 ~ small stature

~  an upward slant to the eyes

 ~ a single deep crease across the center of the palm.

Every person with Down syndrome is a unique individual and may possess these characteristics to different degrees or not at all.

All people with Down syndrome experience cognitive delays, but the effect is usually mild to moderate and is not indicative of the many strengths and talents that each individual possesses.

Fast Facts

Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and economic levels.

The incidence of births of children with Down syndrome increases with the age of the mother. But due to higher fertility rates in younger women, 80 percent of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age.

People with Down syndrome have an increased risk for certain medical conditions such as congenital heart defects, respiratory and hearing problems, Alzheimer's disease, childhood leukemia, and thyroid conditions. Many of these conditions are now treatable, so most people with Down syndrome lead healthy lives.

Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has increased dramatically in recent decades - from 25 in 1983 to 60 today.

People with Down syndrome attend school, work, participate in decisions that affect them, and contribute to society in many wonderful ways

Sites to get you started:

National  Down  Syndrome  Society

Mayo  Clinic   Down  Syndrome  Information

eMedicine  -  Down syndrome

Down syndrome  at  Medicine Net