Down Syndrome
Presentation By: Katherine Mateos
Symptoms
Life Expectancy
Down Syndrome can
shorten life because it
increases the person’s
risk for health problems.
In the past two decades
however, the life
expectancy has almost
doubled for people with
Down Syndrome, from 25
to 49. Down Syndrome
itself is not fatal.
Physical signs
Physical signs of Down
Syndrome include:
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Flat face
Upward slanted eyes
Deep palm creases
White spots in the iris
of eyes
Loose ligaments
Small hands
Short neck
Abnormally shaped
ears
Health Problems
Down Syndrome puts
one at a higher risk for:
– Congenital heart
failure
– Intestinal problems
– Celiac disease
– Eye Problems
– Thyroid Dysfunction
– Skeletal Problems
– Dementia
Other Symptoms
Other symptoms can
range from mild to
severe. People with
Down Syndrome have
intellectual and
developmental
disabilities (IDDs) which
limit intellectual and
adaptive behaviors. They
also may have delayed
language development
and slow motor
development.
Causes
Why It Happens
The reason for Down
Syndrome is that there is an
extra chromosome. This
results in 47 chromosomes
instead of 46. When
someone has Down
Syndrome, instead of having
three copies of chromosome
21 instead of the two that
they are supposed to have.
The cause of the extra
chromosome has not been
discovered.
How It Affects Other Systems
Down Syndrome
affects other systems by
putting you at risk for
diseases that affect
various systems of the
body. An example of this is
that Down Syndrome may
put one at risk for
congenital heart failure
and in that way affects the
cardiovascular system.
Prevention
Risk Factors
Although Down Syndrome
can’t be completely avoided,
the following things may
increase the risk for Down
Syndrome.
• Older mothers
• Mother exposed to X-Rays
• Parents carrying the Down
Syndrome gene
Epidemiology
When was it first seen?
• A Saxon skull from the
seventh century was
found to have the
structural changes of a
child with Down
Syndrome
• Figures made 3,000
years ago resemble
people with Down
Syndrome.
Who discovered it?
• Down syndrome was
first described by John
Down in a published
paper in 1838.
• John Down is credited
for describing details
and distinguishing
children with Down
Syndrome.
Treatments
Therapy
People with Down
Syndrome may take certain
therapies. One type of therapy
people with Down Syndrome
may take Physical Therapy to
avoid poor muscle tone. They
may also take Speech Therapy
to help with speech, and
Occupational Therapy to help
the person learn to perform
everyday tasks. Children with
Down Syndrome may also take
special education classes.
Could there be a cure?
Scientists think that
they may be able to find a
cure for Down Syndrome.
To find a cure, it is
important to pinpoint how
Down Syndrome leads to
retardation. One cure that
is being tested is highpotency antioxidants,
which seems promising.
Scientists also believe that
drugs used to treat
Alzheimer’s disease may be
useful.
Resources
• Unruh J.F. Down Syndrome: Successful Parenting of
Children With Down Syndrome
• Pueschel S. M. A Parent’s Guide to Down Syndrome
Towards a Brighter Future
• http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/article
s/2004/01/27/down_cure_might_be_within_reach/
• http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/down_syndrom
e.cfm
• http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/downsyndrome/DS00182/DSECTION=risk-factors
http://mccneb.edu/
• http://click4biology.info/