Down

Syndrome
Presentation By: Katherine
Mateos

Symptoms

Life Expectancy
Down Syndrome can
shorten life because it
increases the persons
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:

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 cant be
completely avoided,
the following things
may increase the risk
for Down Syndrome.
Older mothers
Mother exposed to XRays
Parents carrying the
Down Syndrome gene

Epidemiolog
y

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 high-potency
antioxidants, which
seems promising.
Scientists also believe
that drugs used to treat
Alzheimers disease may
be useful.

Resources
Unruh J.F. Down Syndrome: Successful Parenting
of Children With Down Syndrome
Pueschel S. M. A Parents Guide to Down
Syndrome Towards a Brighter Future
http://www.boston.com/yourlife/health/diseases/
articles/2004/01/27/down_cure_might_be_within
_reach/
http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/down_sy
ndrome.cfm
http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/downsyndrome/DS00182/DSECTION=risk-factors
http://mccneb.edu/
http://click4biology.info/