Down Syndrome

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Basics

• Summary
• Start Here
• Symptoms
• Diagnosis and Tests
• Treatments and Therapies

Learn More

• Related Issues
• Genetics

See, Play and Learn

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Research

• Statistics and Research
• Clinical Trials
• Journal Articles

Resources

• Find an Expert

For You

• Children
• Patient Handouts

Summary

Down syndrome is a condition in which a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. People with Down syndrome can have physical problems, as well as intellectual disabilities. Every person born with Down syndrome is different.

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. Early treatment programs can help improve skills. They may include speech, physical, occupational, and/or educational therapy. With support and treatment, many people with Down syndrome live happy, productive lives.

NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

Start Here

• About Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
• Down Syndrome (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
• Down Syndrome in Adults: Staying Healthy (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
• Facts about Down Syndrome (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
• What is Down Syndrome? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

Symptoms

• What Are Common Symptoms of Down Syndrome? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Diagnosis and Tests

• Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) Test (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• Down Syndrome Tests (National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
• How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Down Syndrome? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Treatments and Therapies

• What Are Common Treatments for Down Syndrome? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Related Issues

• ADHD and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
• Alzheimer's Disease in People with Down Syndrome (National Institute on Aging)
• Blood Diseases and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
• Dentistry and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
• Down Syndrome: Eye Problems (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)
• Dual Diagnosis of Down Syndrome and Autism (National Down Syndrome Society)
• Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
• Endocrine Conditions and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
• Gastrointestinal System and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
• Mental Health and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
• Sleep and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
• What Causes Down Syndrome? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
• What Conditions or Disorders Are Commonly Associated with Down Syndrome? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Genetics

• Down syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics (National Library of Medicine)
• Learning about Down Syndrome (National Human Genome Research Institute)

Statistics and Research

• DS-Connect: The Down Syndrome Registry (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
• High Rates of Dementia, Alzheimer's Observed Among Older People with Down Syndrome (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
• Who Is at Risk for Down Syndrome? (Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish

Clinical Trials

• ClinicalTrials.gov: Down Syndrome (National Institutes of Health)

Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)

• Article: The Amount of Light to Vigorous Physical Activity (Met's-Hours/Day) in Children...
• Article: Heart Rate Variability in Individuals with Down Syndrome: A Scoping Review...
• Article: Establishing breast feeding in infants with Down syndrome: the FADES cohort...
• Down Syndrome -- see more articles

Find an Expert

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Also in Spanish
• Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development Also in Spanish
• March of Dimes Foundation Also in Spanish
• National Down Syndrome Society

Children

• Down Syndrome (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish

Patient Handouts

• Down syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
• Nuchal translucency test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish