Down's Syndrome

What Should I Know?

Introduction

Down's syndrome is a genetic disorder which is named after John Langdon Down - the doctor who first identified it.

Down's syndrome affects your physical appearance, as well as your ability to learn and develop mentally. It is a life-long condition, which is present from birth. Down's syndrome occurs when a baby inherits an extra chromosome.

In the 1950s, many people with Down's syndrome did not live past the age of 15. However, due to a better understanding of the condition, and advancements in treatment and care, the average life expectancy of someone with Down's syndrome is now between 60-65 years of age.

How Common is Down's Syndrome?

Down's syndrome affects approximately 1 in every 1,000 babies, which means that about 600 babies with Down's syndrome are born each year in the UK. The condition tends to affect male and females equally. It is estimated that there are approximately 60,000 people with Down's syndrome currently living in the UK.

The severity of Down's syndrome symptoms can vary from person to person. There is currently no cure for the condition. However, there are treatments which can help someone with the syndrome to lead an active and independent life.

Causes

Down's syndrome is a genetic condition which occurs because of an extra chromosome.

When a baby is conceived, it inherits genetic material from its parents. The genetic material is usually transferred to the baby in the form of 46 chromosomes - 23 from each parent.

Down's syndrome is caused by a fault with a chromosome called the 21 chromosome. In most cases of Down's syndrome, a child inherits an extra 21 chromosome, meaning they inherit 47 chromosomes, instead of 46. When a person's genetic make up is unbalanced in this way, it can affect their physical and mental characteristics.

What will increase the chance of my child having Down's syndrome?

There is nothing you can do to prevent Down's syndrome from occurring. What you do before, or during, your pregnancy, will not affect the chances of your child developing the condition.

If you already have a child with Down's syndrome, there is a slightly increased risk of you having another baby with the condition. However, this increased risk is very small, at only 1%. It is rare to have more than one baby with Down's syndrome.

The chance of having a baby with Down's syndrome increases when the mother is over 35 years of age. For example, a 20 year old woman has a 1 in 1,440 chance of having a baby with Down's syndrome, while a 35 year old woman has a 1 in 338 chance. A 45 year old woman has a 1 in 32 chance.

However, approximately 80% of babies with Down's syndrome are born to mothers under the age of 35. This is because women under this age make up the majority of the child-bearing population.

Treatment

There is no cure for Down's syndrome, but there are a number of treatments that can help to improve quality of life, giving people with the condition the opportunity to lead healthy, active, and more independent lives.

More Information

• Down's Syndrome Association
• Antenatal care - NICE
• Down's syndrome - Mayo Clinic
• First trimester Down's syndrome screening - Lab Tests Online

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