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Down syndrome

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Medical Encyclopedia: Down Syndrome

Definition

Down syndrome is the most common cause of mental retardation and malformation in a newborn. It occurs because of the presence of an extra chromosome.

Description

Chromosomes are the units of genetic information that exist within every cell of the body. Twenty-three distinctive pairs, or 46 total chromosomes, are located within the nucleus (central structure) of each cell. When a baby is conceived by the combining of one sperm cell with one egg cell, the baby receives 23 chromosomes from each parent, for a total of 46 chromosomes. Sometimes, an accident in the production of a sperm or egg cell causes that cell to contain 24 chromosomes. This event is referred to as nondisjunction. When this defective cell is involved in the conception of a baby, that baby will have a total of 47 chromosomes. The extra chromosome in Down syndrome is labeled number 21. For this reason, the existence of three such chromosomes is sometimes referred to as Trisomy 21.

In a very rare number of Down syndrome cases (about 1–2%), the original egg and sperm cells are completely normal. The problem occurs sometime shortly after fertilization; during the phase where cells are dividing rapidly. One cell divides abnormally, creating a line of cells with an extra chromosome 21. This form of genetic disorder is called a mosaic. The individual with this type of Down syndrome has two types of cells: those with 46 chromosomes (the normal number), and those with 47 chromosomes (as occurs in Down syndrome). Some researchers have suggested that individuals with this type of mosaic form of Down syndrome have less severe signs and symptoms of the disorder.

Another relatively rare genetic accident which can cause Down syndrome is called translocation. During cell division, the number 21 chromosome somehow breaks. A piece of the 21 chromosome then becomes attached to another chromosome. Each cell still has 46 chromosomes, but the extra piece of chromosome 21 results in the signs and symptoms of Down syndrome. Translocations occur in about 3–4% of cases of Down syndrome.

Down syndrome occurs in about one in every 800–1,000 births. It affects an equal number of boys and girls. Less than 25% of Down syndrome cases occur due to an extra chromosome in the sperm cell. The majority of cases of Down syndrome occur due to an extra chromosome 21 within the egg cell supplied by the mother (nondisjunction). As a woman's age (maternal age) increases, the risk of having a Down syndrome baby increases significantly. For example, at younger ages, the risk is about one in 4,000. By the time the woman is age 35, the risk increases to one in 400; by age 40 the risk increases to one in 110; and by age 45 the risk becomes one in 35. There is no increased risk of either mosaicism or translocation with increased maternal age.

— Kim A. Sharp, M.Ln.



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Dictionary: Down syndrome   (doun) pronunciation or Down's syndrome
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(dounz)
n.
A congenital disorder, caused by the presence of an extra 21st chromosome, in which the affected person has mild to moderate mental retardation, short stature, and a flattened facial profile. Also called trisomy 21.

[After John Langdon Haydon Down (1828-1896), British physician.]



Congenital disorder caused by an extra chromosome (trisomy) on the chromosome 21 pair. Those with the syndrome may have broad, flat faces; up-slanted eyes, sometimes with epicanthal folds (whence its former name, mongolism); intellectual disability (usually moderate); heart or kidney malformations; and abnormal fingerprint patterns. Many persons with Down syndrome can live and work independently or in a sheltered environment, but they age prematurely and have a short (55-year) life expectancy. The risk of bearing a child with the disorder increases with the mother's age; it can be detected in the fetus by amniocentesis.

For more information on Down syndrome, visit Britannica.com.

Sci-Tech Encyclopedia: Down syndrome
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A developmental disability due to abnormal chromosome number or structure. It is characterized by physical and behavioral features and has been considered the most common form of genetic aberration. Incidence among the newborn is estimated at 3 in 1000, in the general population approximately 1 in 1000. The difference reflects the early mortality.

The most common type (trisomy 21) is due to a nondisjunction of chromosome 21 during the original cell division, resulting in an extra chromosome 21. These children have a total of 47 chromosomes instead of the usual 46. However, the extra material from chromosome 21 can also be attached to another chromosome through translocation; such children have Down syndrome but only 46 chromosomes. More rarely, the trisomy 21 breaks up, giving some cells with 47 chromosomes and some with 46 (mosaicism).

The characteristic physical features include almond-shaped eyes; a rounded, brachycephalic skull with flattened occipital region; a broad, flattened bridge of the nose; an enlarged fissured tongue; broad hands with stubby fingers; often a single “simian” palmar crease; hypotonic muscle development; thick, everted, and cracked lips; dry, rough skin; subnormal height; and infantile genitalia. Not all of these physical signs are present in every case, and some may be observed in individuals without Down syndrome. However, Down syndrome is diagnosed when most of the anomalies are present.

The degree of mental defect is not directly related to the number or gravity of the physical signs, but rather to a combination of those anomalies and the specific chromosomal defect. Few children with Down syndrome are classified today as severely retarded. Most are moderately to mildly retarded and are often educable and highly trainable. They tend to be curious, observant, skillful at mimicry, and usually, very affectionate. Aggression and hostility are rare; however, they are often stubborn and compulsive and are not easily frustrated. They are excellent candidates for vocational training.

Pathological research suggests nonspecific, generalized defective brain development. There is a tendency toward thyroid dysfunction and congenital heart defects. There may also be vision problems, but below-average dental caries. Medication has little effect on the physical condition or on the mental retardation. See also Alzheimer's disease; Congenital anomalies.

Although there are some reports of more than one child with Down syndrome in a single family, it is not a classical hereditary disease. Incidence is increased if the mother is under 16 or over 35 years old or the father is of advanced age. Furthermore, the Down syndrome child may result from a late or problem pregnancy or the last of numerous pregnancies. Thyroid deficiency, hypopituitarism, and pathology of the ovary have been observed in the mothers, and the probability of upset in their endocrine balance may increase with age. However, the basic etiology is still very much in doubt.

Prenatal identification of Down syndrome in the fetus is possible through amniocentesis. See also Human genetics; Mental retardation.


Dental Dictionary: Down syndrome
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n

A congenital condition characterized by varying degrees of mental retardation and multiple developmental defects. It is most commonly caused by the presence of an extra chromosome 21. It is also called trisomy 21 and trisomy G syndrome. Mongolism is an archaic and discredited term.

Definition

Down syndrome is the most common cause of mental retardation and malformation in a newborn. A genetic disorder, it occurs because of the presence of an extra chromosome.

Description

Chromosomes are units of genetic information that exist within every cell of the body. Twenty-three distinctive pairs, or 46 total chromosomes, are located within the nucleus (central structure) of each cell. When a baby is conceived by combining one sperm cell with one egg cell, the baby receives 23 chromosomes from each parent, for a total of 46 chromosomes. Sometimes, an accident in the production of a sperm or egg cell causes that cell to contain 24 chromosomes. This event is referred to as nondisjunction. When this defective cell is involved in the conception of a baby, that baby will have a total of 47 chromosomes. The extra chromosome in Down syndrome is labeled number 21. For this reason, the existence of three such chromosomes is sometimes referred to as trisomy 21.

In a very rare number of Down syndrome cases (about 1–2%), the original egg and sperm cells are completely normal. The problem occurs sometime shortly after fertilization; during the phase when cells are dividing rapidly. One cell divides abnormally, creating a line of cells with an extra chromosome 21. This form of genetic disorder is called a mosaic. The individual with this type of Down syndrome has two types of cells: those with 46 chromosomes (the normal number) and those with 47 chromosomes (as occurs in Down syndrome). Some researchers have suggested that individuals with this type of mosaic form of Down syndrome have less severe signs and symptoms of the disorder.

Another relatively rare genetic accident which can cause Down syndrome is called translocation. During cell division, the number 21 chromosome somehow breaks. A piece of the number 21 chromosome then becomes attached to another chromosome. Each cell still has 46 chromosomes, but the extra piece of chromosome 21 results in the signs and symptoms of Down syndrome. Translocations occur in about 3–4 percent of cases of Down syndrome.

Demographics

Down syndrome occurs in about one in every 800 to 1,000 births. It affects an equal number of boys and girls. Less than 25 percent of Down syndrome cases occur due to an extra chromosome in the sperm cell. The majority of cases of Down syndrome occur due to an extra chromosome 21 within the egg cell supplied by the mother (nondisjunction). As a woman's age (maternal age) increases, the risk of having a Down syndrome baby increases significantly. For example, at younger ages, the risk is about one in 4,000. By the time the woman is age 35, the risk increases to one in 400; by age 40 the risk increases to one in 110; and by age 45 the risk becomes one in 35. There is no increased risk of either mosaicism or translocation with increased maternal age.

Causes and Symptoms

While Down syndrome is a chromosomal disorder, a baby is usually identified at birth through observation of a set of common physical characteristics. Babies with Down syndrome tend to be overly quiet; less responsive; with weak, floppy muscles. Furthermore, a number of physical signs may be present. These include:

  • flat appearing face
  • small head
  • flat bridge of the nose
  • smaller than normal, low-set nose
  • small mouth, which causes the tongue to stick out and to appear overly large
  • upward slanting eyes
  • extra folds of skin located at the inside corner of each eye, near the nose (called epicanthal folds)
  • rounded cheeks
  • small, misshapen ears
  • small, wide hands
  • an unusual, deep crease across the center of the palm (called a simian crease)
  • a malformed fifth finger
  • a wide space between the big and the second toes
  • unusual creases on the soles of the feet
  • overly flexible joints (sometimes referred to as being double-jointed)
  • shorter than normal height

Other types of defects often accompany Down syndrome. About 30 to 50 percent of all children with Down syndrome are found to have heart defects. A number of different heart defects are common in Down syndrome, including abnormal openings (holes) in the walls that separate the heart's chambers (atrial septal defect, ventricular septal defect). These result in abnormal patterns of blood flow within the heart. The abnormal blood flow often means that less oxygen is sent into circulation throughout the body. Another heart defect that occurs in Down syndrome is called tetralogy of Fallot. Tetralogy of Fallot consists of a hole in the heart, along with three other major heart defects.

Malformations of the gastrointestinal tract are present in about 5–7 percent of children with Down syndrome. The most common malformation is a narrowed, obstructed duodenum (the part of the intestine into which the stomach empties). This disorder, called duodenal atresia, interferes with the baby's milk or formula leaving the stomach and entering the intestine for digestion. The baby often vomits forcibly after feeding and cannot gain weight appropriately until the defect is repaired.

Other medical conditions that occur in patients with Down syndrome include an increased chance of developing infections, especially ear infections and pneumonia; certain kidney disorders; thyroid disease (especially low or hypothyroid); hearing loss; vision impairment that requires corrective lenses; and a 20-times greater chance of developing leukemia (a blood disorder).

Development in a baby and child with Down syndrome occurs at a much slower than normal rate. Because of weak, floppy muscles (hypotonia), babies learn to sit up, crawl, and walk much later than their normal peers. Talking is also quite delayed. The level of mental retardation is considered to be mild-to-moderate in Down syndrome. The actual IQ range of Down syndrome children is quite varied, but the majority of such children are in what is sometimes known as the trainable range. This means that most people with Down syndrome can be trained to do regular self-care tasks, function in a socially appropriate manner in a normal home environment, and even hold simple jobs.

As people with Down syndrome age, they face an increased chance of developing the brain disease called Alzheimer's (sometimes referred to dementia or senility). Most people have a six in 100 risk of developing Alzheimer's, but people with Down syndrome have a one-in-four chance of the disease. Alzheimer's disease causes the brain to shrink and to break down. The number of brain cells decreases, and abnormal deposits and structural arrangements occur. This process results in loss of brain function. People with Alzheimer's have strikingly faulty memories. Over time, people with Alzheimer's disease lapse into an increasingly unresponsive state. Some researchers have shown that even Down syndrome patients who do not appear to have Alzheimer's disease have the same changes occurring to the structures and cells of their brains.

As people with Down syndrome age, they also have an increased chance of developing a number of other medical difficulties, including cataracts, thyroid problems, diabetes, and seizure disorders.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is usually suspected at birth, when the characteristic physical signs of Down syndrome are noted. Once this suspicion has been raised, genetic testing (chromosome analysis) can be undertaken in order to verify the presence of the disorder. This testing is usually done on a blood sample, although chromosome analysis can also be done on other types of tissue, including skin. The cells to be studied are prepared in a laboratory. Chemical stain is added to make the characteristics of the cells and the chromosomes stand out. Chemicals are added to prompt the cells to go through normal development, up to the point where the chromosomes are most visible, prior to cell division. At this point, they are examined under a microscope and photographed. The photograph is used to sort the different sizes and shapes of chromosomes into pairs. In most cases of Down syndrome, one extra chromosome 21 will be revealed. The final result of such testing, with the photographed chromosomes paired and organized by shape and size, is called the individual's karyotype.

Treatment

As of 2004 no treatment is available to cure Down syndrome. Treatment is directed at addressing the individual concerns of a particular patient. For example, heart defects often times require surgical repair, as will duodenal atresia. Many Down syndrome patients need to wear glasses to correct vision. Patients with hearing impairment benefit from hearing aids.

In the mid 1900s, all Down syndrome children were quickly placed into institutions for lifelong care. Research shows, however, that the best outlook for children with Down syndrome is family life in their own home. This arrangement requires careful support and education of the parents and the siblings. Parents and other siblings face a life-changing event in receiving a new baby who has a permanent condition that will affect essentially all aspects of his or her development. Some community groups are committed to helping families deal with the emotional effects of this new situation. Schools are required to provide services for children with Down syndrome, sometimes in separate special education classrooms and sometimes in regular classrooms, a practiced called mainstreaming or inclusion.

Prognosis

The prognosis in Down syndrome is quite variable, depending on the types of complications (heart defects, susceptibility to infections, development of leukemia) of each individual baby. The severity of the retardation can also vary significantly. Without the presence of heart defects, about 90 percent of children with Down syndrome live into their teens. People with Down syndrome appear to go through the normal physical changes of aging more rapidly, however. The average age at death for an individual with Down syndrome is about 50 to 55 years.

Still, in the early 2000s, the prognosis for a baby born with Down syndrome is better than ever before. Because of modern medical treatments, including antibiotics to treat infections and surgery to treat heart defects and duodenal atresia, life expectancy has greatly increased. Community and family support allows people with Down syndrome to have rich, meaningful relationships and in some cases to hold jobs.

Men with Down syndrome appear to be uniformly sterile (meaning that they are unable to have offspring). Women with Down syndrome, however, are fully capable of having babies. About 50 percent of these babies, however, will also be born with Down syndrome.

Prevention

Efforts at prevention of Down syndrome are aimed at genetic counseling of couples who are preparing to have babies. A counselor needs to inform a woman that her risk of having a baby with Down syndrome increases with her increasing age. Two types of testing is available during a pregnancy to determine if the baby being carried has Down syndrome.

Screening tests are used to estimate the chance that an individual woman will have a baby with Down syndrome. At 14–17 weeks of pregnancy, measurements of a substance called AFP (alpha-fetoprotein) can be performed. AFP is normally found circulating in the blood of a pregnant woman but may be unusually high or low with certain disorders. Carrying a baby with Down syndrome often causes AFP to be lower than normal. This information alone, or along with measurements of two other hormones, is considered along with the mother's age to calculate the risk of the baby being born with Down syndrome. These results are only predictions and are only correct about 60 percent of the time. Other screening tests measure and compare the levels of other markers present in the mother's blood. A specialized ultrasound exam measures the thickness of the back of the fetus's neck (called nuchal lucency). Thicker measurements correlate with the possibility of Down syndrome or other chromosomal abnormalities.

All of these screening tests are used to decide which mothers will be offered other, more definitive testing to ascertain whether the baby has Down syndrome. These more definitive tests each carry a risk of miscarriage, which is why screening tests are an important first step. The only way to definitively establish (with about 98–99% accuracy) the presence or absence of Down syndrome in a developing baby is to test tissue from the pregnancy itself. This is usually done either by amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS). In amniocentesis, a small amount of the fluid in which the baby is floating is withdrawn with a long, thin needle. In chorionic villus sampling, a tiny tube is inserted into the opening of the uterus to retrieve a small sample of the placenta (the organ that attaches the growing baby to the mother via the umbilical cord, and provides oxygen and nutrition). Both amniocentesis and CVS allow the baby's own karyotype to be determined. A couple must then decide whether to use this information in order to begin to prepare for the arrival of a baby with Down syndrome or to terminate the pregnancy.

Once a couple has had one baby with Down syndrome, they are often concerned about the likelihood of future offspring also being born with the disorder. Most research indicates that this chance remains the same as for any other woman at a similar age. However, when the baby with Down syndrome has the type that results from a translocation, it is possible that one of the two parents is a carrier of that defect. (A carrier carries the genetic defect but does not actually have the disorder.) When one parent is a carrier of a translocation, the chance of future offspring having Down syndrome is greatly increased. The specific risk will have to be calculated by a genetic counselor.

Parental Concerns

Parenting a child with Down syndrome can be both challenging and rewarding. Children with Down syndrome have a wide range of potential outcomes. Early intervention programs have been proven to be of great help in assisting these children in achieving the highest level of functioning possible. There are many support groups available for parents and siblings of Down syndrome children.

Resources

Books

Hall, Judith G. "Chromosomal Clinical Abnormalities." In Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. Edited by Richard E. Behrman et al. Philadelphia: Saunders, 2004.

Simpson, Joe Leigh. "Genetic Counseling and Prenatal Diagnosis." In Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies. Edited by Steven G. Gabbe. London: Churchill Livingstone, 2002.

Tierney, Lawrence, et al. Current Medical Diagnosis and Treatment. Los Altos, CA: Lange Medical Publications, 2001.Periodicals

Canick, J. A. "Prenatal screening for Down syndrome: current and future methods." Clinical Laboratory Medicine 86 (June 2003): 395–411.

Roizen, N. J. "Medical care and monitoring for the adolescent with Down syndrome." Adolescent Medicine 13 (June 2002): 345–58.

Tyler, C. "Down syndrome, Turner syndrome, and Klinefelter syndrome: primary care throughout the life span." Primary Care 31 (September 2004): 627.

Organization

National Down Syndrome Congress. 1370 Center Drive, Suite 102 Atlanta, GA 30338 (800) 232-6372. Web site: www.ndsccenter.org

National Down Syndrome Society. 666 Broadway, 8th Floor, New York, NY 10012-2317. Web site: www.ndss.org.

[Article by: Kim A. Sharp, M.Ln. Rosalyn Carson-DeWitt, MD]



Genetics Encyclopedia: Down Syndrome
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Down syndrome, also called trisomy 21, is the single most common genetic cause of moderate mental retardation. It occurs in about one of every eight hundred live births. It is caused by the inheritance of an extra copy of chromosome 21. The condition was named after an English physician, J. Langdon Down, who in 1866 published the first report describing patients with similar facial features and mental retardation. The chromosomal basis of Down syndrome was not determined until nearly a century later.

Clinical Features

Down syndrome is associated with a characteristic physical appearance, mental retardation, and specific birth defects or health conditions. The facial features, in addition to low muscle tone (called hypotonia), are often the first signs that alert a physician to a potential diagnosis of Down syndrome. These features include an up-slant of the outer corners of the eyes, small skin folds over the inner corners of the eyes, a small nose with a flat nasal bridge, a flat profile, and a large, grooved tongue that often protrudes from the mouth. Other physical characteristics can include a short neck, excess skin on the back of the neck, short hands with a single palmar crease, a wide gap between the first and second toes, and short stature. There are many individuals without Down syndrome who may have one or more of these features. It is only when the features occur together and the appropriate genetic test (chromosome studies) confirms clinical suspicion that a diagnosis of Down syndrome is made.

All individuals with Down syndrome have mental retardation, usually mild to moderate. The degree of learning disability may not be immediately apparent, since social ability generally exceeds scholastic ability. Early intervention programs are important for giving people with Down syndrome the best chance to maximize their learning potential.

Certain birth defects and health conditions are more common in individuals with Down syndrome. The most common birth defect is a congenital heart defect, affecting 40 percent to 50 percent of newborns with the condition. Although many can be repaired with surgery, congenital heart defects remain the major cause of early death among affected persons. Individuals with Down syndrome have an increased chance of experiencing hearing loss, vision problems, and thyroid disease, as well as an increased susceptibility to infections. Because of such concerns, specific guidelines for the health care of individuals with Down syndrome have been developed.

Chromosomal Basis of Down Syndrome

In 1959 French geneticist Jerome Lejeune recognized that individuals with Down syndrome have forty-seven chromosomes instead of the usual forty-six. Later, it was determined that it is an extra copy of chromosome 21 that causes the condition. It is not yet clear how the extra chromosome causes the clinical features, although it is believed that an "extra dose" of one or more of the genes on the chromosome is responsible.

There are three types of Down syndrome: trisomy 21, mosaic Down syndrome, and translocation Down syndrome. In 94 percent of cases, the extra copy of chromosome 21 stands alone (is not attached to any other chromosomes) and is present in every cell of the body. This is called trisomy 21, trisomy meaning three.

Trisomy 21 occurs due to a chromosome packaging error. Usually when the body makes its sex cells (egg or sperm cells) during meiosis, it packages up one chromosome from each pair. However, sometimes an error (nondisjunction) occurs, causing both chromosomes from a pair to get packaged together. If the sex cell with the extra chromosome is fertilized by a sex cell with the usual chromosome number, the resulting embryo will have a trisomy. If the extra chromosome is chromosome 21, the embryo will have Down syndrome. About 75 percent of embryos with trisomy 21 abort spontaneously before birth. Nondisjunction occurs by chance in the making of both egg and sperm cells, but it happens more often in egg cells as women get older. Thus, the chance of having a baby with Down syndrome increases with increasing maternal age.

Translocation Down syndrome, which accounts for 3 percent to 4 percent of cases, occurs when the extra copy of chromosome 21 is attached to another chromosome. In about one-fourth of the cases where a person has translocation Down syndrome, he or she inherited the translocation from a parent. Therefore it is important to test the parents' chromosomes in these cases, for purposes of future family planning.

The third type of Down syndrome is the mosaic type, which occurs in 2 percent to 3 percent of cases. In mosaic Down syndrome, a person has some cells with an extra copy of chromosome 21 and some cells with the usual two copies. People with mosaic Down syndrome may or may not have milder symptoms than people with "full" trisomy 21.

Testing for Down Syndrome

Cytogenetic analysis looks at the number and structure of a person's chromosomes. This test, which can be performed on a blood sample, is the test used to definitively determine if an individual has Down syndrome.

Table 1

Maternal AgeRisk of Down SyndromeTotal Risk for all Chromosomal Abnormalities
201/16671/526
211/16671/526
221/14291/500
231/14291/500
241/12501/476
251/12501/476
261/11761/476
271/11111/455
281/10531/435
291/10001/417
301/9521/385
311/9091/385
321/7691/322
331/6021/286
341/4851/238
351/3781/192
361/2891/156
371/2241/127
381/1731/102
391/1361/83
401/1061/66
411/821/53
421/631/42
431/491/33
441/381/26
451/381/21
461/231/16
471/181/13
481/141/10
491/111/8

Prenatal diagnosis for Down syndrome (testing for the condition during pregnancy) is possible. Chromosome studies can be performed on fetal cells collected via chorionic villus sampling (CVS) at ten to twelve weeks of pregnancy or by amniocentesis at fifteen to twenty weeks of pregnancy. Because of the link between the mother's age and the chance of Down syndrome, prenatal diagnosis for Down syndrome and other chromosome conditions is routinely offered to women thirty-five and older. Whether to pursue prenatal diagnosis is a personal decision that can only be made by the parents.

Bibliography

Evans, Mark I., et al. Fetal Diagnosis and Therapy: Science, Ethics, and the Law. Philadelphia, PA: JB Lippincott Co., 1989.

Gardner, R., J. McKinlay, and Grant R. Sutherland. Chromosome Abnormalities and Genetic Counseling, 2nd ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1996.

Nussbaum, Robert L., Roderick R. McInnes, and Huntington F. Willard, eds. Thompson & Thompson Genetics in Medicine, 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: W. B. Saunders, 2001.

Pueschel, Siegfried M., ed. A Parent's Guide to Down Syndrome: Toward a Brighter Future, 2nd ed. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brooks Publishing, 2001.

Internet Resource

Cohen, William I., ed. "Health Care Guidelines for Individuals with Down Syndrome: 1999 Revision." Down Syndrome Quarterly 4, no. 3 (1999): 1-15. http://www.denison.edu/dsq/health99.shtml.

—Angela Trepanier and Gerald L. Feldman

 
Columbia Encyclopedia: Down syndrome
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Down syndrome, congenital disorder characterized by mild to severe mental retardation, slow physical development, and characteristic physical features. Down syndrome affects about 1 in every 730 live births and occurs in all populations equally. It was first described in 1866 by an English physician, J. Langdon Down. In 1959 a French physician, Jerome Lejeune, discovered that the syndrome was caused by an extra chromosome. It was later discovered that this extra chromosome appears as a third chromosome attached to the 21st of the 23 pairs of chromosomes normally present in the human genome. This third chromosome gives rise to the alternate name trisomy 21.

The extra genetic material is responsible for the physical characteristics of the syndrome: low muscle tone, flattish facial features, an upward slant to the eyes and epicanthal folds (which were the basis for the former name, mongolism), a single crease across the palm, hyperflexibility of the joints, and a displastic middle phalanx on the fifth finger. People with Down syndrome have an increased incidence of infection, childhood leukemia, congenital heart defects, and respiratory problems, but modern medical treatment has improved the life expectancy from 9 (in 1910) to 55 (in 1995).

Mental retardation varies widely, from minimal to severe. The great majority of those who have the disorder attend public schools and as adults can live independently or in group homes. After age 35 individuals with the syndrome develop the neurological changes of Alzheimer's disease, and many develop the dementia that accompanies them.

Eighty percent of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age, but the incidence of Down syndrome births does increase with age. Approximately 5% of cases are transmitted by the sperm. Amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling can be used to detect the disorder in the fetus. Children born to women with Down syndrome have a 50% chance of having the disorder.


Health Dictionary: Down's syndrome
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A congenital condition, caused by an abnormality in the chromosomes, marked by moderate to severe mental retardation and changes in certain physical features.

World of the Mind: Down's syndrome
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The most common genetic cause of learning disability, which is believed to occur during the early stages of embryological development due to the presence of an extra chromosome 21. The human body usually has 46 chromosomes in each cell, half from the mother, half from the father. A person with Down's syndrome has an extra chromosome, making 47 in all, which causes disruption in growth of the developing baby. There are three different types of Down's syndrome: standard trisomy 21, which is found in 95 per cent of people with Down's syndrome and is not inherited. The second type occurs in approximately 1 in 100 people with Down's syndrome who have inherited the condition from their mother or father because of a genetic anomaly called a translocation. The third type, mosaic Down's syndrome, is also rare.

The characteristics of Down's syndrome include: a flattened face, a thick tongue which may be too large for the mouth, extra folds for eyelids, hands that are broad with short fingers, a deep cleft between the first and second toe extending as a crease on the side of the foot, and a much lower than average IQ. Certain medical problems are more common in people with Down's syndrome: for example, heart disease and problems with vision and hearing. Increasing evidence has also shown that almost all individuals with Down's syndrome show neuropathological changes similar to those seen in Alzheimer's disease, if they survive into their 40s. This has been attributed to excess production of beta-amyloid protein, which is encoded by the APP gene on chromosome 21 (see Petronis 1999 for a recent review).

It is now more common for people with Down's syndrome to enjoy longer lifespans of 40–60 years. This is a massive increase in life expectancy (which, for example, in 1983 was estimated at 25 years) resulting from better treatment for frequent causes of death, a shift in attitudes towards Down's syndrome, and accompanying changes in medical practice (Yang, Rasmussen, and Friedman 2002). Although increasing life expectancy in people with Down's syndrome does have implications for the primary carers, such as the parents, it is increasingly being recognized that people with Down's syndrome are capable of living fulfilled and relatively independent lives (e.g. Alderson 2001). The social issues surrounding increased life expectancy and attitudes towards people with Down's syndrome have huge implications for prenatal screening policies. It is important that potential parents of Down's syndrome children have access to realistic, unprejudiced knowledge about the condition, which should come from a variety of psychological, medical, and personal sources.

Prenatal tests for Down's syndrome include, for example, amniocentesis. Amniocentesis, the most common diagnostic test of Down's syndrome, is usually carried out at around 15–16 weeks of pregnancy and involves taking a sample of the amniotic fluid in the womb. The test is almost 100 per cent accurate but carries a risk of miscarriage of around 1 in 100. Screening tests such as the triple test are also available that provide an estimate of the probability of the baby having the condition rather than a categorical decision. A blood sample is taken at around 16 weeks and an individualized risk value is calculated. For reasons not understood, the incidence of Down's syndrome is higher in children born of older parents, especially of an older mother.

For further information or support concerning Down's syndrome visit: www.dsa-uk.com (The Down's Syndrome Association, UK).

(Published 2004)

— Richard L. Gregory

    Bibliography
  • Alderson, P. (2001). 'Down's syndrome: cost, quality and value of life'. Social Science and Medicine, 53.
  • Epstein C. J. (1995). 'Down syndrome (Trisomy 21)'. In Scriver, C. R., Beaudet, A. L., Sly, W. S., and Valle, D. (eds.), The Metabolic and Molecular Bases of Inherited Disease, vol i.
  • Petronis, A. (1999). 'Alzheimer's disease and Down syndrome: from meiosis to dementia'. Experimental Neurology, 158.
  • Yang, Q., Rasmussen, S. A., and Friedman, J. M. (2002). 'Mortality associated with Down's syndrome in the USA from 1983 to 1997: a population based study'. Lancet, 359.


Wikipedia: Down syndrome
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Down syndrome
Classification and external resources

Boy with Down syndrome assembling a bookcase
ICD-10 Q90.
ICD-9 758.0
OMIM 190685
DiseasesDB 3898
MedlinePlus 000997
eMedicine ped/615
MeSH D004314

Down syndrome (the most common term in US English), Down's syndrome (standard in the rest of the English-speaking world), trisomy 21, or trisomy G is a chromosomal disorder caused by the presence of all or part of an extra 21st chromosome. It is named after John Langdon Down, the British doctor who described the syndrome in 1866. The disorder was identified as a chromosome 21 trisomy by Jérôme Lejeune in 1959. The condition is characterized by a combination of major and minor differences in structure. Often Down syndrome is associated with some impairment of cognitive ability and physical growth as well as facial appearance. Down syndrome in a baby can be identified with amniocentesis during pregnancy or at birth.

Individuals with Down syndrome tend to have a lower than average cognitive ability, often ranging from mild to moderate developmental disabilities. A small number have severe to profound mental disability. The incidence of Down syndrome is estimated at 1 per 800 to 1,000 births, although these statistics are heavily influenced by older mothers. Other factors may also play a role.

Many of the common physical features of Down syndrome may also appear in people with a standard set of chromosomes, including microgenia (an abnormally small chin)[1], an unusually round face, macroglossia[2] (protruding or oversized tongue), an almond shape to the eyes caused by an epicanthic fold of the eyelid, upslanting palpebral fissures (the separation between the upper and lower eyelids), shorter limbs, a single transverse palmar crease (a single instead of a double crease across one or both palms, also called the Simian crease), poor muscle tone, and a larger than normal space between the big and second toes. Health concerns for individuals with Down syndrome include a higher risk for congenital heart defects, gastroesophageal reflux disease, recurrent ear infections, obstructive sleep apnea, and thyroid dysfunctions.

Early childhood intervention, screening for common problems, medical treatment where indicated, a conducive family environment, and vocational training can improve the overall development of children with Down syndrome. Although some of the physical genetic limitations of Down syndrome cannot be overcome, education and proper care will improve quality of life.[3]

Contents

Characteristics

Individuals with Down syndrome may have some or all of the following physical characteristics: microgenia (abnormally small chin)[1], oblique eye fissures with epicanthic skin folds on the inner corner of the eyes (formerly known as a mongoloid fold[2]), muscle hypotonia (poor muscle tone), a flat nasal bridge, a single palmar fold, a protruding tongue (due to small oral cavity, and an enlarged tongue near the tonsils) or macroglossia[2], a short neck, white spots on the iris known as Brushfield spots,[4] excessive joint laxity including atlanto-axial instability, congenital heart defects, excessive space between large toe and second toe, a single flexion furrow of the fifth finger, and a higher number of ulnar loop dermatoglyphs. Most individuals with Down syndrome have mental retardation in the mild (IQ 50–70) to moderate (IQ 35–50) range,[5] with individuals having Mosaic Down syndrome typically 10–30 points higher.[6] In addition, individuals with Down syndrome can have serious abnormalities affecting any body system. They also may have a broad head and a very round face.

The medical consequences of the extra genetic material in Down syndrome are highly variable and may affect the function of any organ system or bodily process. The health aspects of Down syndrome encompass anticipating and preventing effects of the condition, recognizing complications of the disorder, managing individual symptoms, and assisting the individual and his/her family in coping and thriving with any related disability or illnesses.[5]

Down syndrome can result from several different genetic mechanisms. This results in a wide variability in individual symptoms due to complex gene and environment interactions. Prior to birth, it is not possible to predict the symptoms that an individual with Down syndrome will develop. Some problems are present at birth, such as certain heart malformations. Others become apparent over time, such as epilepsy.

The most common manifestations of Down syndrome are the characteristic facial features, cognitive impairment, congenital heart disease (typically a ventricular septal defect), hearing deficits (maybe due to sensory-neural factors, or chronic serous otitis media, also known as Glue-ear), short stature, thyroid disorders, and Alzheimer's disease. Other less common serious illnesses include leukemia, immune deficiencies, and epilepsy.

However, health benefits of Down syndrome include greatly reduced incidence of many common malignancies except leukemia and testicular cancer[7] — although it is, as yet, unclear whether the reduced incidence of various fatal cancers among people with Down syndrome is as a direct result of tumor-suppressor genes on chromosome 21,[8] because of reduced exposure to environmental factors that contribute to cancer risk, or some other as-yet unspecified factor. In addition to a reduced risk of most kinds of cancer, people with Down syndrome also have a much lower risk of hardening of the arteries and diabetic retinopathy.[9]

Cognitive development

Cognitive development in children with Down syndrome is quite variable. It is not currently possible at birth to predict the capabilities of any individual reliably, nor are the number or appearance of physical features predictive of future ability. The identification of the best methods of teaching each particular child ideally begins soon after birth through early intervention programs.[10] Since children with Down syndrome have a wide range of abilities, success at school can vary greatly, which underlines the importance of evaluating children individually. The cognitive problems that are found among children with Down syndrome can also be found among typical children. Therefore, parents can use general programs that are offered through the schools or other means.

Language skills show a difference between understanding speech and expressing speech, and commonly individuals with Down syndrome have a speech delay, requiring speech therapy to improve expressive language.[11] Fine motor skills are delayed[12] and often lag behind gross motor skills and can interfere with cognitive development. Effects of the disorder on the development of gross motor skills are quite variable. Some children will begin walking at around 2 years of age, while others will not walk until age 4. Physical therapy, and/or participation in a program of adapted physical education (APE), may promote enhanced development of gross motor skills in Down syndrome children.[13]

Individuals with Down syndrome differ considerably in their language and communication skills. It is routine to screen for middle ear problems and hearing loss; low gain hearing aids or other amplification devices can be useful for language learning. Early communication intervention fosters linguistic skills. Language assessments can help profile strengths and weaknesses; for example, it is common for receptive language skills to exceed expressive skills. Individualized speech therapy can target specific speech errors, increase speech intelligibility, and in some cases encourage advanced language and literacy. Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) methods, such as pointing, body language, objects, or graphics are often used to aid communication. Relatively little research has focused on the effectiveness of communications intervention strategies.[14]

In education, mainstreaming of children with Down syndrome is becoming less controversial in many countries. For example, there is a presumption of mainstream in many parts of the UK. Mainstreaming is the process whereby students of differing abilities are placed in classes with their chronological peers. Children with Down syndrome may not age emotionally/socially and intellectually at the same rates as children without Down syndrome, so over time the intellectual and emotional gap between children with and without Down syndrome may widen. Complex thinking as required in sciences but also in history, the arts, and other subjects can often be beyond the abilities of some, or achieved much later than in other children. Therefore, children with Down syndrome may benefit from mainstreaming provided that some adjustments are made to the curriculum.[15]

Some European countries such as Germany and Denmark advise a two-teacher system, whereby the second teacher takes over a group of children with disabilities within the class. A popular alternative is cooperation between special schools and mainstream schools. In cooperation, the core subjects are taught in separate classes, which neither slows down the typical students nor neglects the students with disabilities. Social activities, outings, and many sports and arts activities are performed together, as are all breaks and meals.[16]

Fertility

Fertility amongst both males and females is reduced; males are usually unable to father children, while females demonstrate significantly lower rates of conception relative to unaffected individuals.[citation needed] Approximately half of the offspring of someone with Down syndrome also have the syndrome themselves.[17] There have been only three recorded instances of males with Down syndrome fathering children.[18][19]

Genetics

Karyotype for trisomy Down syndrome. Notice the three copies of chromosome 21

Down syndrome is a chromosomal abnormality characterized by the presence of an extra copy of genetic material on the 21st chromosome, either in whole (trisomy 21) or part (such as due to translocations). The effects of the extra copy vary greatly among people, depending on the extent of the extra copy, genetic history, and pure chance. Down syndrome occurs in all human populations, and analogous effects have been found in other species such as chimpanzees[20] and mice. Recently, researchers have created transgenic mice with most of human chromosome 21 (in addition to the normal mouse chromosomes).[21] The extra chromosomal material can come about in several distinct ways. A typical human karyotype is designated as 46,XX or 46,XY, indicating 46 chromosomes with an XX arrangement typical of females and 46 chromosomes with an XY arrangement typical of males.[22]

Trisomy 21

Trisomy 21 (47,XX,+21) is caused by a meiotic nondisjunction event. With nondisjunction, a gamete (i.e., a sperm or egg cell) is produced with an extra copy of chromosome 21; the gamete thus has 24 chromosomes. When combined with a normal gamete from the other parent, the embryo now has 47 chromosomes, with three copies of chromosome 21. Trisomy 21 is the cause of approximately 95% of observed Down syndromes, with 88% coming from nondisjunction in the maternal gamete and 8% coming from nondisjunction in the paternal gamete.[23]

Mosaicism

Trisomy 21 is usually caused by nondisjunction in the gametes prior to conception, and all cells in the body are affected. However, when some of the cells in the body are normal and other cells have trisomy 21, it is called mosaic Down syndrome (46,XX/47,XX,+21).[24][25] This can occur in one of two ways: a nondisjunction event during an early cell division in a normal embryo leads to a fraction of the cells with trisomy 21; or a Down syndrome embryo undergoes nondisjunction and some of the cells in the embryo revert to the normal chromosomal arrangement. There is considerable variability in the fraction of trisomy 21, both as a whole and among tissues. This is the cause of 1–2% of the observed Down syndromes.[23]

Robertsonian translocation

The extra chromosome 21 material that causes Down syndrome may be due to a Robertsonian translocation in the karyotype of one of the parents. In this case, the long arm of chromosome 21 is attached to another chromosome, often chromosome 14 [45,XX,der(14;21)(q10;q10)]. A person with such a translocation is phenotypically normal. During reproduction, normal disjunctions leading to gametes have a significant chance of creating a gamete with an extra chromosome 21, producing a child with Down syndrome. Translocation Down syndrome is often referred to as familial Down syndrome. It is the cause of 2–3% of observed cases of Down syndrome.[23] It does not show the maternal age effect, and is just as likely to have come from fathers as mothers.

Duplication of a portion of chromosome 21

Rarely, a region of chromosome 21 will undergo a duplication event. This will lead to extra copies of some, but not all, of the genes on chromosome 21 (46,XX, dup(21q)).[26] If the duplicated region has genes that are responsible for Down syndrome physical and mental characteristics, such individuals will show those characteristics. This cause is very rare and no rate estimates are available.

Screening

Ultrasound of fetus with Down syndrome and megacystis

Pregnant women can be screened for various complications during pregnancy. Many standard prenatal screens can discover Down syndrome. Genetic counseling along with genetic testing, such as amniocentesis, chorionic villus sampling (CVS), or percutaneous umbilical cord blood sampling (PUBS) are usually offered to families who may have an increased chance of having a child with Down syndrome, or where normal prenatal exams indicate possible problems. In the United States, ACOG guidelines recommend that non-invasive screening and invasive testing be offered to all women, regardless of their age, and most likely all physicians currently follow these guidelines. However, some insurance plans will only reimburse invasive testing if a woman is >34 years old or if she has received a high-risk score from a non-invasive screening test.

Amniocentesis and CVS are considered invasive procedures, in that they involve inserting instruments into the uterus, and therefore carry a small risk of causing fetal injury or miscarriage. The risks of miscarriage for CVS and amniocentesis are often quoted as 1% and 0.5% respectively. There are several common non-invasive screens that can indicate a fetus with Down syndrome. These are normally performed in the late first trimester or early second trimester. Due to the nature of screens, each has a significant chance of a false positive, suggesting a fetus with Down syndrome when, in fact, the fetus does not have this genetic abnormality. Screen positives must be verified before a Down syndrome diagnosis is made. Common screening procedures for Down syndrome are given in Table 1.

Table 1: First and second trimester Down syndrome screens
Screen When performed (weeks gestation) Detection rate False positive rate Description
Quad screen 15–20 81%[9] 5% This test measures the maternal serum alpha feto protein (a fetal liver protein), estriol (a pregnancy hormone), human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG, a pregnancy hormone), and inhibin-Alpha (INHA).[27]
Nuchal translucency/free beta/PAPPA screen (aka "1st Trimester Combined Test") 10–13.5 85%[28] 5% Uses ultrasound to measure Nuchal Translucency in addition to the freeBeta hCG and PAPPA (pregnancy-associated plasma protein A). NIH has confirmed that this first trimester test is more accurate than second trimester screening methods.[29] Performing an NT ultrasound requires considerable skill; a Combined test may be less accurate if there is operator error, resulting in a lower-than-advertised sensitivity and higher false-positive rate, possibly in the 5-10% range.
Integrated Test 10-13.5 and 15–20 95%[30] 5% The Integrated test uses measurements from both the 1st Trimester Combined test and the 2nd trimester Quad test to yield a more accurate screening result. Because all of these tests are dependent on accurate calculation of the gestational age of the fetus, the real-world false-positive rate is >5% and maybe be closer to 7.5%.

Even with the best non-invasive screens, the detection rate is 90%–95% and the rate of false positive is 2%–5%. Inaccuracies can be caused by undetected multiple fetuses (very rare with the ultrasound tests), incorrect date of pregnancy, or normal variation in the proteins.

Confirmation of screen positive is normally accomplished with amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling (CVS). Amniocentesis is an invasive procedure and involves taking amniotic fluid from the amniotic sac and identifying fetal cells. The lab work can take several weeks but will detect over 99.8% of all numerical chromosomal problems with a very low false positive rate.[31]

Ethical issues

A 2002 literature review of elective abortion rates found that 91–93% of pregnancies in the United States with a diagnosis of Down syndrome were terminated.[32] Data from the National Down Syndrome Cytogenetic Register in the United Kingdom indicates that from 1989 to 2006 the proportion of women choosing to terminate a pregnancy following prenatal diagnosis of Down Syndrome has remained constant at around 92%.[33][34] Some physicians and ethicists are concerned about the ethical ramifications of this.[35] Conservative commentator George Will called it "eugenics by abortion".[36] British peer Lord Rix stated that "alas, the birth of a child with Down's syndrome is still considered by many to be an utter tragedy" and that the "ghost of the biologist Sir Francis Galton, who founded the eugenics movement in 1885, still stalks the corridors of many a teaching hospital".[37] Doctor David Mortimer has argued in Ethics & Medicine that "Down's syndrome infants have long been disparaged by some doctors and government bean counters."[38] Some members of the disability rights movement "believe that public support for prenatal diagnosis and abortion based on disability contravenes the movement's basic philosophy and goals."[39]

Medical ethicist Ronald Green argues that parents have an obligation to avoid 'genetic harm' to their offspring,[40] and Claire Rayner, then a patron of the Down's Syndrome Association, defended testing and abortion saying "The hard facts are that it is costly in terms of human effort, compassion, energy, and finite resources such as money, to care for individuals with handicaps... People who are not yet parents should ask themselves if they have the right to inflict such burdens on others, however willing they are themselves to take their share of the burden in the beginning."[41] Peter Singer argued that "neither haemophilia nor Down's syndrome is so crippling as to make life not worth living, from the inner perspective of the person with the condition. To abort a fetus with one of these disabilities, intending to have another child who will not be disabled, is to treat fetuses as interchangeable or replaceable. If the mother has previously decided to have a certain number of children, say two, then what she is doing, in effect, is rejecting one potential child in favour of another. She could, in defence of her actions, say: the loss of life of the aborted fetus is outweighed by the gain of a better life for the normal child who will be conceived only if the disabled one dies."[42]

Management

Treatment of individuals with Down Syndrome depends on the particular manifestations of the disease. For instance, individuals with congenital heart disease may need to undergo major corrective surgery soon after birth. Other individuals may have relatively minor health problems requiring no therapy.

Plastic surgery

Plastic surgery has sometimes been advocated and performed on children with Down syndrome, based on the assumption that surgery can reduce the facial features associated with Down syndrome, therefore decreasing social stigma, and leading to a better quality of life.[43] Plastic surgery on children with Down syndrome is uncommon,[44] and continues to be controversial. Researchers have found that for facial reconstruction, "...although most patients reported improvements in their child's speech and appearance, independent raters could not readily discern improvement...."[45] For partial glossectomy (tongue reduction), one researcher found that 1 out of 3 patients "achieved oral competence," with 2 out of 3 showing speech improvement.[46] Len Leshin, physician and author of the ds-health website, has stated, "Despite being in use for over twenty years, there is still not a lot of solid evidence in favor of the use of plastic surgery in children with Down syndrome."[47] The National Down Syndrome Society has issued a "Position Statement on Cosmetic Surgery for Children with Down Syndrome"[48] which states that "The goal of inclusion and acceptance is mutual respect based on who we are as individuals, not how we look."

Alternative treatment

The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential is a non-profit organization which treats children who have, as the IAHP terms it, "some form of brain injury," including children with Down syndrome. The approach of "Psychomotor Patterning" is not proven,[49] and is considered alternative medicine.

Prognosis

These factors can contribute to a shorter life expectancy for people with Down syndrome. One study, carried out in the United States in 2002, showed an average lifespan of 49 years, with considerable variations between different ethnic and socio-economic groups.[50] However, in recent decades, the life expectancy among persons with Down syndrome has increased significantly up from 25 years in 1980. The causes of death have also changed, with chronic neurodegenerative diseases becoming more common as the population ages. Most people with Down Syndrome who survive into their 40s and 50s begin to suffer from an alzheimer's-like dementia.[51]

Epidemiology

Graph showing probability of Down syndrome as a function of maternal age.

The incidence of Down syndrome is estimated at one per 800 to one per 1000 births.[52] In 2006, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimated the rate as one per 733 live births in the United States (5429 new cases per year).[53] Approximately 95% of these are trisomy 21. Down syndrome occurs in all ethnic groups and among all economic classes.

Maternal age influences the chances of conceiving a baby with Down syndrome. At maternal age 20 to 24, the probability is one in 1562; at age 35 to 39 the probability is one in 214, and above age 45 the probability is one in 19.[54] Although the probability increases with maternal age, 80% of children with Down syndrome are born to women under the age of 35,[55] reflecting the overall fertility of that age group. Recent data also suggest that paternal age, especially beyond 42,[56] also increases the risk of Down Syndrome manifesting in pregnancies in older mothers.[57]

Current research (as of 2008) has shown that Down syndrome is due to a random event during the formation of sex cells or pregnancy. There has been no evidence that it is due to parental behavior (other than age) or environmental factors.

History

English physician John Langdon Down first characterized Down syndrome as a distinct form of mental disability in 1862, and in a more widely published report in 1866.[58] Due to his perception that children with Down syndrome shared physical facial similarities (epicanthal folds) with those of Blumenbach's Mongolian race, Down used the term mongoloid, derived from prevailing ethnic theory.[59] Attitudes to Down's syndrome were very much tied to racism until as recently as the 1970s.

By the 20th century, Down syndrome had become the most recognizable form of mental disability. Most individuals with Down syndrome were institutionalized, few of the associated medical problems were treated, and most died in infancy or early adult life. With the rise of the eugenics movement, 33 of the (then) 48 U.S. states and several countries began programs of forced sterilization of individuals with Down syndrome and comparable degrees of disability. The ultimate expression of this type of public policy was "Action T4" in Nazi Germany, a program of systematic murder. Court challenges, scientific advances and public revulsion led to discontinuation or repeal of such sterilization programs during the decades after World War II.

Until the middle of the 20th century, the cause of Down syndrome remained unknown. However, the presence in all races, the association with older maternal age, and the rarity of recurrence had been noticed. Standard medical texts assumed it was caused by a combination of inheritable factors which had not been identified. Other theories focused on injuries sustained during birth.[60]

With the discovery of karyotype techniques in the 1950s, it became possible to identify abnormalities of chromosomal number or shape. In 1959, Jérôme Lejeune discovered that Down syndrome resulted from an extra chromosome.[61][62] The extra chromosome was subsequently labeled as the 21st, and the condition as trisomy 21.

In 1961, eighteen geneticists wrote to the editor of The Lancet suggesting that Mongolian idiocy had "misleading connotations," had become "an embarrassing term," and should be changed.[63] The Lancet supported Down's Syndrome. The World Health Organization (WHO) officially dropped references to mongolism in 1965 after a request by the Mongolian delegate.[64] However, almost 40 years later, the term ‘mongolism’ still appears in leading medical texts such as General and Systematic Pathology, 4th Edition, 2004, edited by Professor Sir James Underwood.

In 1975, the United States National Institutes of Health convened a conference to standardize the nomenclature of malformations. They recommended eliminating the possessive form: "The possessive use of an eponym should be discontinued, since the author neither had nor owned the disorder."[65] Although both the possessive and non-possessive forms are used in the general population, Down syndrome is the accepted term among professionals in the USA, Canada and other countries; Down's syndrome is still used in the United Kingdom and other areas.[66]

Society and culture

Advocates for people with Down syndrome point to various factors, such as additional educational support and parental support groups to improve parenting knowledge and skills. There are also strides being made in education, housing, and social settings to create environments which are accessible and supportive to people with Down syndrome. In most developed countries, since the early twentieth century many people with Down syndrome were housed in institutions or colonies and excluded from society. However, since the early 1960s parents and their organizations (such as MENCAP), educators and other professionals have generally advocated a policy of inclusion,[67] bringing people with any form of mental or physical disability into general society as much as possible. In many countries, people with Down syndrome are educated in the normal school system; there are increasingly higher-quality opportunities to move from special (segregated) education to regular education settings.

Despite these changes, the additional support needs of people with Down syndrome can still pose a challenge to parents and families. Although living with family is preferable to institutionalization, people with Down syndrome often encounter patronizing attitudes and discrimination in the wider community.

The first World Down Syndrome Day was held on 21 March 2006. The day and month were chosen to correspond with 21 and trisomy respectively. It was proclaimed by European Down Syndrome Association during their European congress in Palma de Mallorca (febr. 2005). In the United States, the National Down Syndrome Society observes Down Syndrome Month every October as "a forum for dispelling stereotypes, providing accurate information, and raising awareness of the potential of individuals with Down syndrome."[68] In South Africa, Down Syndrome Awareness Day is held every October 20.[69] Organizations such as Special Olympics Hawaii provide year-round sports training for individuals with intellectual disabilities such as down syndrome.

Notable individuals

Scottish award-winning film and TV actress Paula Sage receives her BAFTA award with Brian Cox.

Portrayal in fiction

Research

Down syndrome is “a developmental abnormality characterized by trisomy of human chromosome 21" (Nelson 619). The extra copy of chromosome-21 leads to an over expression of certain genes located on chromosome-21.

Research by Arron et al. shows that some of the phenotypes associated with Down syndrome can be related to the disregulation of transcription factors (596), and in particular, NFAT. NFAT is controlled in part by two proteins, DSCR1 and DYRK1A; these genes are located on chromosome-21 (Epstein 582). In people with Down syndrome, these proteins have 1.5 times greater concentration than normal (Arron et al. 597). The elevated levels of DSCR1 and DYRK1A keep NFAT primarily located in the cytoplasm rather than in the nucleus, preventing NFATc from activating the transcription of target genes and thus the production of certain proteins (Epstein 583).

This dysregulation was discovered by testing in transgenic mice that had segments of their chromosomes duplicated to simulate a human chromosome-21 trisomy (Arron et al. 597). A test involving grip strength showed that the genetically modified mice had a significantly weaker grip, much like the characteristically poor muscle tone of an individual with Down syndrome (Arron et al. 596). The mice squeezed a probe with a paw and displayed a .2 newton weaker grip (Arron et al. 596). Down syndrome is also characterized by increased socialization. When modified and unmodified mice were observed for social interaction, the modified mice showed as much as 25% more interactions as compared to the unmodified mice (Arron et al. 596).

The genes that may be responsible for the phenotypes associated may be located proximal to 21q22.3. Testing by Olson et al. in transgenic mice show the duplicated genes presumed to cause the phenotypes are not enough to cause the exact features. While the mice had sections of multiple genes duplicated to approximate a human chromosome-21 triplication, they only showed slight craniofacial abnormalities (688-690). The transgenic mice were compared to mice that had no gene duplication by measuring distances on various points on their skeletal structure and comparing them to the normal mice (Olson et al. 687). The exact characteristics of Down syndrome were not observed, so more genes involved for Down Syndrome phenotypes have to be located elsewhere.

Reeves et al., using 250 clones of chromosome-21 and specific gene markers, were able to map the gene in mutated bacteria. The testing had 99.7% coverage of the gene with 99.9995% accuracy due to multiple redundancies in the mapping techniques. In the study 225 genes were identified (311-313).

The search for major genes that may be involved in Down syndrome symptoms is normally in the region 21q21–21q22.3. However, studies by Reeves et al. show that 41% of the genes on chromosome-21 have no functional purpose, and only 54% of functional genes have a known protein sequence. Functionality of genes was determined by a computer using exon prediction analysis (312). Exon sequence was obtained by the same procedures of the chromosome-21 mapping.

Research has led to an understanding that two genes located on chromosome-21, that code for proteins that control gene regulators, DSCR1 and DYRK1A can be responsible for some of the phenotypes associated with Down syndrome. DSCR1 and DYRK1A cannot be blamed outright for the symptoms; there are a lot of genes that have no known purpose. Much more research would be needed to produce any appropriate or ethically acceptable treatment options.

Recent use of transgenic mice to study specific genes in the Down syndrome critical region has yielded some results. APP[79] is an Amyloid beta A4 precursor protein. It is suspected to have a major role in cognitive difficulties.[80] Another gene, ETS2[81] is Avian Erythroblastosis Virus E26 Oncogene Homolog 2. Researchers have "demonstrated that over-expression of ETS2 results in apoptosis. Transgenic mice over-expressing ETS2 developed a smaller thymus and lymphocyte abnormalities, similar to features observed in Down syndrome."[81]

Vitamin supplements, in particular supplemental antioxidants and folinic acid, have been shown to be ineffective in the treatment of Down syndrome.[82]

Footnotes

  1. ^ a b Meira Weiss. "Conditional love: parents' attitudes toward handicapped children". p. page 94. http://books.google.com/books?id=a62J5GPHd3cC&pg=PA94&lpg=PA94&dq=%22down%27s+syndrome%22+chin+face&source=bl&ots=hVCgwMgpKi&sig=dZ3TYZnWjWMEnTioJY9WQcLP_4E&hl=en&ei=0Q9nSsegJYOZjAe6ypmmAQ&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=5. Retrieved 2009-07-22. 
  2. ^ a b c This discussion by Myron Belfer, M.D., book by Gottfried Lemperie, M.D., and Dorin Radu, M.D. (1980). "Facial Plastic Surgery in Children with Down's Syndrome (preview page, with link to full content on plasreconsurg.com)". p. page 343. http://scholar.google.com/scholar?q=info:Nt6asksVAiYJ:scholar.google.com/&hl=en&output=viewport. Retrieved 2009-07-22. 
  3. ^ Roizen NJ, Patterson D.Down's syndrome. Lancet. 2003 12 April;361(9365):1281–9. Review. PMID 12699967
  4. ^ "Definition of Brushfield's Spots". http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=6570. 
  5. ^ a b American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Genetics (February 2001). "American Academy of Pediatrics: Health supervision for children with Down syndrome". Pediatrics 107 (2): 442–449. doi:10.1542/peds.107.2.442. PMID 11158488. 
  6. ^ Strom, C. "FAQ from Mosaic Down Syndrome Society". http://www.mosaicdownsyndrome.com/faqs.htm. Retrieved 2006-06-03. 
  7. ^ Yang Q, Rasmussen SA, Friedman JM. Mortality associated with Down's syndrome in the USA from 1983 to 1997: a population-based study. Lancet 2002 23 March;359(9311):1019–25. PMID 11937181
  8. ^ Lee et al. (2003). "Loss of heterozygosity on the long arm of chromosome 21 in non–small cell lung cancer". Ann Thorac Surg 75: 1597–1600. http://ats.ctsnetjournals.org/cgi/content/full/75/5/1597. 
  9. ^ a b ACOG Guidelines Bulletin #77 clearly state that the sensitivity of the Quad Test is 81%
  10. ^ "Dear New or Expectant Parents". National Down Syndrome Society. http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2015&Itemid=198. Retrieved 2006-05-12.  Also "Research projects - Early intervention and education". http://www.downsed.org/topics/early-intervention/. Retrieved 2006-06-02. 
  11. ^ Bird, G. and S. Thomas (2002). "Providing effective speech and language therapy for children with Down syndrome in mainstream settings: A case example". Down Syndrome News and Update 2 (1): 30–31.  Also, Kumin, Libby (1998). "Comprehensive speech and language treatment for infants, toddlers, and children with Down syndrome". in Hassold, T.J.and D. Patterson. Down Syndrome: A Promising Future, Together. New York: Wiley-Liss. 
  12. ^ "Development of Fine Motor Skills in Down Syndrome". http://www.about-down-syndrome.com/fine-motor-skills-in-down-syndrome.html. Retrieved 2006-07-03. 
  13. ^ M. Bruni. "Occupational Therapy and the Child with Down Syndrome". http://www.ds-health.com/occther.htm. Retrieved 2006-06-02. 
  14. ^ Roberts JE, Price J, Malkin C (2007). "Language and communication development in Down syndrome". Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev 13 (1): 26–35. doi:10.1002/mrdd.20136. PMID 17326116. 
  15. ^ S.E.Armstrong. "Inclusion: Educating Students with Down Syndrome with Their Non-Disabled Peers". http://www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome/index.htm?page=ndssincl.html. Retrieved 2006-05-12.  Also, see Debra L. Bosworth. "Benefits to Students with Down Syndrome in the Inclusion Classroom: K-3". http://www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome/index.htm?page=bosworth.html. Retrieved 2006-06-12.  Finally, see a survey by NDSS on inclusion, Gloria Wolpert (1996). "The Educational Challenges Inclusion Study". National Down Syndrome Society. http://www.altonweb.com/cs/downsyndrome/index.htm?page=wolpert.html. Retrieved 2006-06-28. 
  16. ^ There are many such programs. One is described by Action Alliance for Children, K. Flores. "Special needs, "mainstream" classroom". http://www.4children.org/news/103spec.htm. Retrieved 2006-05-13.  Also, see Flores, K.. "Special needs, "mainstream" classroom". http://www.4children.org/pdf/103spec.pdf. Retrieved 2006-05-13. 
  17. ^ Hsiang YH, Berkovitz GD, Bland GL, Migeon CJ, Warren AC (1987). "Gonadal function in patients with Down syndrome". Am. J. Med. Genet. 27 (2): 449–58. doi:10.1002/ajmg.1320270223. PMID 2955699. 
  18. ^ Sheridan R, Llerena J, Matkins S, Debenham P, Cawood A, Bobrow M (1989). "Fertility in a male with trisomy 21". J Med Genet 26 (5): 294–8. doi:10.1136/jmg.26.5.294. PMID 2567354. 
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  28. ^ ACOG Guidelines Bulletin #77 state that the sensitivity of the Combined Test is 82-87%
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  30. ^ ACOG Guidelines Bulletin #77 state that the sensitivity of the Integrated Test is 94-96%
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References

Research bibliography

  • Arron JR, Winslow MM, Polleri A, et al. (2006). "NFAT dysregulation by increased dosage of DSCR1 and DYRK1A on chromosome 21". Nature 441 (7093): 595–600. doi:10.1038/nature04678. PMID 16554754. 
  • Epstein CJ (June 2006). "Down's syndrome: critical genes in a critical region". Nature 441 (7093): 582–3. doi:10.1038/441582a. PMID 16738647. 
  • Ganong, W.J. (2005). Review of Medical Physiology (21st ed.). New York: Mc-Graw Hill. ISBN 0071402365. 
  • Nelson DL, Gibbs RA (2004). "Genetics. The critical region in trisomy 21". Science (journal) 306 (5696): 619–21. doi:10.1126/science.1105226. PMID 15499000. 
  • Olson LE, Richtsmeier JT, Leszl J, Reeves RH (2004). "A chromosome 21 critical region does not cause specific Down syndrome phenotypes". Science (journal) 306 (5696): 687–90. doi:10.1126/science.1098992. PMID 15499018. 
  • Hattori M, Fujiyama A, Taylor TD, et al. (2000). "The DNA sequence of human chromosome 21". Nature 405 (6784): 311–9. doi:10.1038/35012518. PMID 10830953. 
  • Underwood, J.C.E. (2004). General and Systematic Pathology (4th ed.). Edinburgh: Churchill Livingstone. ISBN 0443073341. 

General bibliography

  • Beck, M.N. (1999). Expecting Adam. New York: Berkley Books. 
  • Buckley, S. (2000). Living with Down Syndrome. Portsmouth, UK: The Down Syndrome Educational Trust. ISBN 1903806011. http://books.google.com/books?id=__5wB08U2hMC. 
  • Down Syndrome Research Foundation (2005). Bright Beginnings: A Guide for New Parents. Buckinghamshire, UK: Down Syndrome Research Foundation. http://www.dsrf.co.uk/Reading_material/Bright_beginnings.htm. 
  • Dykens EM (2007). "Psychiatric and behavioral disorders in persons with Down syndrome". Ment Retard Dev Disabil Res Rev 13 (3): 272–8. doi:10.1002/mrdd.20159. PMID 17910080. 
  • Hassold, T.J., D. Patterson, eds. (1999). Down Syndrome: A Promising Future, Together. New York: Wiley Liss.
  • Kingsley, J.; M. Levitz (1994). Count Us In: Growing up with Down Syndrome. San Diego: Harcourt Brace. 
  • Pueschel, S.M., M. Sustrova, eds. (1997). Adolescents with Down Syndrome: Toward a More Fulfilling Life. Baltimore, MD: Paul H. Brookes.
  • Selikowitz, M. (1997). Down Syndrome: The Facts (2nd ed.). Oxford, UK: Oxford University Press. ISBN 0192626620. 
  • Van Dyke, D.C.; P.J. Mattheis, S. Schoon Eberly, J. Williams (1995). Medical and Surgical Care for Children with Down Syndrome. Bethesda, MD: Woodbine House. ISBN 0933149549. 
  • Zuckoff, M. (2002). Choosing Naia: A Family's Journey. New York: Beacon Press. ISBN 0807028177. 

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