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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
Symptoms
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What Are Common Symptoms of Down Syndrome?
(Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
Diagnosis and Tests
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Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) Test
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
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Down Syndrome Tests
(National Library of Medicine) Also in Spanish
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How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Down Syndrome?
(Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
- Prenatal Tests for Down Syndrome (American College of Nurse-Midwives) - PDF
Treatments and Therapies
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What Are Common Treatments for Down Syndrome?
(Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
Related Issues
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Alzheimer's Disease in People with Down Syndrome
(National Institute on Aging)
- Down Syndrome: Co-Occuring Conditions (National Down Syndrome Society)
- Down Syndrome: Eye Problems (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)
- Speech & Language Therapy for Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
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What Causes Down Syndrome?
(Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
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What Conditions or Disorders are Commonly Associated with Down Syndrome?
(Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
- What is Down Syndrome? (National Down Syndrome Society)
Genetics
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Down syndrome: MedlinePlus Genetics
(National Library of Medicine)
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Learning about Down Syndrome
(National Human Genome Research Institute)
Statistics and Research
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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)
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Who is at Risk for Down Syndrome?
(Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) Also in Spanish
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Down Syndrome
(National Institutes of Health)
Journal Articles References and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Children
- Down Syndrome (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Older Adults
- Aging and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society) - PDF
Patient Handouts
- Down syndrome (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish
- Nuchal translucency test (Medical Encyclopedia) Also in Spanish