How is Down syndrome inherited?
Most cases of Down syndrome are not inherited, but occur as random events during the formation of reproductive cells (eggs and sperm). An error in cell division called nondisjunction results in reproductive cells with an abnormal number of chromosomes.
What is life like with a Down Syndrome child?
Path to improved development. In many important ways, children who have Down syndrome are very much like other children. They have the same moods and emotions, they like to learn new things, play, and enjoy life. You can help your child develop by providing as many chances as possible for him or her to do these things.
What is the life expectancy of a Down syndrome?
What is the life expectancy for people with Down syndrome? The life expectancy of people with Down syndrome increased dramatically between 1960 and 2007. In 1960, on average, persons with Down syndrome lived to be about 10 years old. In 2007, on average, persons with Down syndrome lived to be about 47 years old.
Is Down syndrome caused by mother or father?
There is no definitive scientific research that indicates that Down syndrome is caused by environmental factors or the parents’ activities before or during pregnancy. The additional partial or full copy of the 21st chromosome which causes Down syndrome can originate from either the father or the mother.
Can people with Down syndrome drive?
Many people with Down Syndrome lead independent lives, this includes being able to drive. If a person with Down syndrome can read and pass a driver’s education class and pass a road test, then they can get a driver’s license.
Can two parents with Down syndrome have a normal baby?
Any couple can have a baby with Down’s syndrome, but it is well known that older women are more likely to have a baby with the condition than younger women.
Who is more likely to have a baby with Down syndrome?
According to the Centers for Disease and Prevention, mothers aged 35 and older are more likely to have a baby with Down syndrome than younger mothers. The probability increases the older the mother is. Research shows that paternal age also has an effect.
Why do Down syndrome babies stick their tongue out?
Some babies have decreased muscle tone. Since the tongue is a muscle, and is controlled by other muscles in the mouth, decreased muscle tone can cause the tongue to stick out more than usual. Several conditions may cause decreased muscle tone, such as Down syndrome, DiGeorge syndrome, and cerebral palsy.
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 is the longest someone has lived with Down syndrome?
Bert Holbrook
Can a person with Down syndrome drink alcohol?
As long as they are of legal drinking age, anyone who has Down syndrome can consume alcohol. Like all people, an adult with Down syndrome can choose to drink alcohol if they want to. Alcohol affects people with Down syndrome no differently than it would another person.
Can you tell if baby has Down syndrome ultrasound?
An ultrasound can detect fluid at the back of a fetus’s neck, which sometimes indicates Down syndrome. The ultrasound test is called measurement of nuchal translucency. During the first trimester, this combined method results in more effective or comparable detection rates than methods used during the second trimester.
What happens when a baby has Down syndrome?
Children with Down syndrome usually share certain physical features — eyes that slant upward, a flattened nose, a short neck, small ears, a tongue that may stick out of the mouth: large tongue, small hands and feet, and low muscle tone or loose ligaments.
Can Down syndrome have normal intelligence?
scores for people with Down syndrome vary, with the average cognitive delays being mild to moderate, not severe. In fact, normal intelligence is possible. If a person with Down syndrome has difficulty with hearing, it can be misinterpreted as a problem with understanding.
What can cause Down syndrome in pregnancy?
Down syndrome can be caused by one of three types of abnormal cell division involving chromosome 21. The three genetic variations include: Trisomy 21– More than 90% of Down syndrome cases are caused by trisomy 21. An extra chromosome (chromosome 21) originates in the development of either the sperm or the egg.