Also called: Also called: Trisomy 21
Down syndrome is set of mental and physical symptoms that result from having an extra copy of chromosome 21. Even though people with Down syndrome may have some physical and mental features in common, symptoms of Down syndrome can range from mild to severe. Usually, mental development and physical development are slower in people with Down syndrome than in those without it.
People with the syndrome may also have other health problems. They may be born with heart disease. They may have dementia. They may have hearing problems and problems with the intestines, eyes, thyroid and skeleton.
The chance of having a baby with Down syndrome increases as a woman gets older. Down syndrome cannot be cured. However, many people with Down syndrome live productive lives well into adulthood.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
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Down Syndrome
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/Down_Syndrome.cfm
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Genetics Home Reference: Down syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=downsyndrome
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Down Syndrome(March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation) - http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/14332_1214.asp
Also available in Spanish http://www.nacersano.org/centro/9388_9974.asp
- Down Syndrome(Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research) - http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/down-syndrome/DS00182/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print
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Facts about Down Syndrome(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/publications/pubs/downsyndrome.cfm
- Research Unveils Earliest Cell Changes in Down Syndrome(09/04/2008, HealthDay) - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_68924.html
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Down Syndrome and Your Unborn Baby(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/special/birth/610.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/special/birth/610.printerview.html
- Alzheimer's Disease and Down Syndrome(National Down Syndrome Society) - Links to PDF - http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=180:alzheimers-and-down-syndrome&catid=60:associated-conditions&Itemid=88
- Musculoskeletal Effects of Down Syndrome(American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons) - http://www.orthoinfo.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00045
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Down Syndrome in Adults: Staying Healthy(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/articles/716.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/articles/716.printerview.html
- Down Syndrome Myths & Truths(National Down Syndrome Society) - http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59:myths-and-truths&catid=35:about-down-syndrome&Itemid=76
- Down Syndrome: Education, Development, and Community Life(National Down Syndrome Society) - http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=37&Itemid=58
- Down Syndrome: Elementary & Secondary Education(National Down Syndrome Society) - http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=58:elementary-a-secondary-education&catid=37:education-development-a-community-life&Itemid=83
- Down Syndrome: Healthcare(National Down Syndrome Society) - http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=38&Itemid=59
- Is It Possible to Breastfeed My Baby Who Was Born with Down Syndrome?(La Leche League International) - http://www.llli.org//FAQ/down.html
- Sexuality and Down Syndrome(National Down Syndrome Society) - http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=134:sexuality&catid=50:transition-a-adulthood&Itemid=141
- What Is Down Syndrome?(Dolan DNA Learning Center) - Requires Flash Player - http://www.yourgenesyourhealth.org/ds/whatisit.htm
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Down Syndrome(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Down+Syndrome%22
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Genetics Home Reference: Down syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=downsyndrome
References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
- Article: First- and second-trimester Down syndrome screening: current strategies and clinical... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18603499&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Effects of a community-based progressive resistance training program on muscle... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18586124&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Adults with genetic syndromes and cardiovascular abnormalities: clinical history and... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18580689&tool=MedlinePlus
- Down Syndrome -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=down+syndrome[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+AND+(jsubsetk[text]+OR+review[pt]+OR+guideline[pt]+OR+clinical+trial[pt]+OR+patient+education+handout[pt]+OR+systematic[sb])+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt]+OR+case+reports[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- Down Syndrome: Affiliates(National Down Syndrome Society) - http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&id=41&Itemid=62
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March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation - http://www.marchofdimes.com/
Also available in Spanish http://www.nacersano.org/
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National Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities(Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) - http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/
Also available in Spanish http://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/defaultspan.htm
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National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities - http://www.nichcy.org/
Also available in Spanish http://www.nichcy.org/spanish.htm
- National Down Syndrome Society - http://www.ndss.org/
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National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/
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Down Syndrome(Nemours Foundation) - http://kidshealth.org/kid/health_problems/birth_defect/down_syndrome.html
Also available in Spanish http://kidshealth.org/parent/en_espanol/medicos/down_syndrome_esp.html
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Down Syndrome: Caring for a Baby Who Has Down Syndrome(American Academy of Family Physicians) - http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/children/parents/special/birth/339.printerview.html
Also available in Spanish http://familydoctor.org/online/famdoces/home/children/parents/special/birth/339.printerview.html
- Transition Planning(National Down Syndrome Society) - http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=129:transition-planning&catid=50:transition-a-adulthood&Itemid=141
- Genetics/Birth Defects - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/geneticsbirthdefects.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Down Syndrome is the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/