Education: FAQ's
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What is DS? |
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The most common form of Down syndrome is called Trisomy 21, because it involves an extra copy of the 21st chromosome. DS is the most common form of mental retardation. |
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What are my chances of having a baby with DS? |
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Down syndrome affects about 1 in 1,000 children born in the United States. Various health problems result from a child's having an extra copy of chromosome 21. Heart defects, intestinal tract abnormalities and eye, ear and thyroid problems are common. Mental retardation -- delayed language development and learning in general -- affects almost all children with Down syndrome, and there is no available treatment. DS is not race or religion specific. However, statistics show that maternal age does have an impact. |
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What other health concerns are common with the diagnosis of DS? |
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Congenital heart disease: Up to 50 percent of individuals with Down syndrome are born with congenital heart defects. Not all require surgery. The majority of heart defects in children with Down syndrome can now be surgically corrected with resulting long-term health improvements. However, scientists continue to search for the cause of this problem and look for means of prevention. Leukemia: Individuals with Down syndrome have a 15 to 20 times greater risk of developing leukemia. The majority of cases are categorized as acute megakaryoblastic leukemia, which tends to occur in the first three years of life, and for which there is a high cure rate. A transient form of leukemia is also seen in newborns with Down syndrome, disappearing spontaneously during the first two to three months of life. |
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What types of research are you currently funding? |
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Duke study |
