What is the main effect of Down syndrome?

Down syndrome is a chromosomal condition that is associated with intellectual disability, a characteristic facial appearance, and weak muscle tone (hypotonia) in infancy. All affected individuals experience cognitive delays, but the intellectual disability is usually mild to moderate.

What causes Down syndrome and what are its effects?

Down syndrome results when abnormal cell division involving chromosome 21 occurs. These cell division abnormalities result in an extra partial or full chromosome 21. This extra genetic material is responsible for the characteristic features and developmental problems of Down syndrome.

What is Down syndrome explain to child?

Down syndrome is a condition in which a person has an extra chromosome. Chromosomes are small “packages” of genes in the body. They determine how a baby’s body forms and functions as it grows during pregnancy and after birth. Typically, a baby is born with 46 chromosomes.

Who does Down syndrome affect?

Down syndrome occurs in people of all races and economic levels, though older women have an increased chance of having a child with Down syndrome. A 35 year old woman has about a one in 350 chance of conceiving a child with Down syndrome, and this chance increases gradually to 1 in 100 by age 40.

How does Down syndrome affect the brain?

We know that people with Down syndrome have difficulties with brain function, including problems with learning, memory and speech throughout life, as well as the onset in later life of increased cognitive problems associated with the brain changes of Alzheimer’s disease.

How does Down syndrome affect learning?

Down syndrome can affect learning abilities in different ways, but it usually causes mild to moderate intellectual impairment. Children with Down syndrome have delays in speech and motor skills, and may need help with self-care, such as dressing and grooming.

Does Down syndrome affect the brain?

Does Down syndrome affect memory?

Individuals with Down syndrome also show impaired explicit long-term memory for verbal information, and may also have particular problems in explicit long-term memory for visual-object associations.

Did you know facts about Down syndrome?

One in every 691 babies in the U.S. is born with Down syndrome, making it the most common chromosomal condition. There are more than 400,000 people living with Down syndrome in the U.S. In 1983, the average life expectancy of a person with Down syndrome was a mere 25-years-old. Today, it’s 60.

What do kids with Down syndrome struggle with?

Children with Down syndrome have delays in speech and motor skills, and may need help with self-care, such as dressing and grooming. Medical problems associated with Down syndrome can vary widely from child to child. While some kids and teens need a lot of medical attention, others lead healthy lives.

How does Down syndrome affect a child’s emotional development?

The psychosocial and environmental triggers also lead to a state of generalized anxiety, obsessive compulsive symptoms, and depression and sleep difficulties. They may be associated with weight loss, poor self care, and inability to be motivated to attend school or go to work placements.

What causes Down syndrome?

Down syndrome is a genetic disorder caused when abnormal cell division results in an extra full or partial copy of chromosome 21. This extra genetic material causes the developmental changes and physical features of Down syndrome.

What is it like to have Down syndrome?

The characteristics of Down syndrome include low muscle tone, short stature, a flat nasal bridge, and a protruding tongue. People with Down syndrome have a higher risk of some conditions, including Alzheimer’s disease and epilepsy. Doctors can use screening tests during pregnancy to estimate the probability that a child will have Down syndrome.

How do babies have Down syndrome?

Babies with Down syndrome have an extra copy of one of these chromosomes, chromosome 21. A medical term for having an extra copy of a chromosome is ‘trisomy.’ Down syndrome is also referred to as Trisomy 21. This extra copy changes how the baby’s body and brain develop, which can cause both mental and physical challenges for the baby.

What is Down syndrome in children?

Down syndrome (sometimes called Down’s syndrome) is a condition in which a child is born with an extra copy of their 21st chromosome — hence its other name, trisomy 21. This causes physical and mental developmental delays and disabilities. Many of the disabilities are lifelong, and they can also shorten life expectancy.