DOWN SYNDROME

DOWN SYNDROME

By Carmen Martín and Nerea Peña

WHO DISCOVERED IT?

SYMPTONS/CONSEQUENCES:

THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF DS:

Trisomy 21:Every cell in the body has three copies of chromosome 21.

Translocation Down syndrome: In this type, each cell has part of an extra chromosome 21.

Mosaic Down syndrome:Only some cells have an extra chromosome 21.

Also known as trisomy 21, it is a genetic disorder caused by the presence of all or part of a third copy of chromosome 21. A person who does not have it, would have only 2 chromosomes.

In 1958, Dr. Jérôme Lejeune discovered that Down syndrome was caused by an extra chromosome on the 21st pair.

In 1866, Dr. John Langdon Haydon Down was working in a hospital caring for people with mental disabilities. He found that many of these people shared certain physical traits, traits that we now associate with Down syndrome.

Down syndrome (DS) is a major cause of mental retardation and congenital heart disease. Besides a characteristic set of facial and physical features, DS is associated with congenital anomalies of the gastrointestinal tract, an increased risk of leukemia, immune system defects, and an Alzheimer-like dementia.

INCIDENCE IN THE POPULATION:

Between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,100 live births worldwide, according to the World Health Organization . There's no way to prevent Down syndrome.Early treatment programs can help improve skills. They may include speech, physical, occupational, and/or educational therapy.