Down Syndrome and the Health Problems That Accompany It - Other health problems that accompany Down syndrome include thyroid disorders, kidney disorders, vision and hearing impairments, a propensity towards...
Why Be Concerned About Down Syndrome?
Down Syndrome Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) - Question: Is Down syndrome inherited? Down syndrome is not inherited in the sense that one parent is a carrier and passes it on to their child. It...
Down Syndrome Motor Skills and Athletics - Since the majority of children with Down syndrome are born with heart defects and problems, they are automatically at a disadvantage when it comes to...
In the United States alone, there are about 350,000 families that are affected in some way by Down syndrome. There are approximately 5,000 babies with Down syndrome born every year. Down syndrome can affect anyone at anytime. No one is particularly exempt from the possibility of having a child with Down syndrome. Women who are older than 35 years of age do have an increased risk of having a child with Down syndrome –actually, it is a one in 400 chance – due to the increased age of her eggs. This occurs because women do not make new eggs each month but in actuality are born with the number of eggs in each ovary that they will ever have. By the time the woman is 40 years of age her chances of having a baby with Down syndrome increases to one in 110 and by the age of 45 years, it increases to one in 35. Since the trend today is for more and more women to wait longer to start their families there is becoming a greater incidence of woman who are getting pregnant with Down syndrome infants.
Down Syndrome Resources List - Knowledge is the single most important tool a person can have when they are dealing with any type of challenge. There are many resources available that...
The fact that more women are waiting to get pregnant and more women are finding out that they are carrying infants with Down syndrome, leads to an increase in pregnancy terminations. Research shows that 90% of Down syndrome pregnancies are terminated.
As there is more research on the 21st chromosome and the genetics of Down syndrome it is hopeful that a treatment and/or cure could be on the horizon. Scientists also believe that it will be possible to improve, correct, or prevent many of the health issues that accompany Down syndrome. With the increase in terminations of Down syndrome pregnancies, there will obviously be a decrease in the number of Down syndrome babies born. As the population of Down syndrome people gradually decreases, funding for research will decrease, the need for research will decrease, and eventually the possibility for treatments or a cure will not be so close.
The National Down Syndrome Society is a big supporter and sponsor for research. Since 1983, the NDSS has provided nearly $3 million dollars in research support by directly funding more than 40 scientists and sponsoring over twelve research conferences.
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All articles on this site are for information only and should not be treated as medical advice.
If you experience any symptoms, consult a medical professional.