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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
- Down Syndrome (American Academy of Family Physicians) Also in Spanish
- Down Syndrome (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research)
- Down Syndrome (For Parents) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
- Facts about Down Syndrome (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention) Also in Spanish
- What Is Down Syndrome? (National Down Syndrome Society)
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What is Down Syndrome?
(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
Also in Spanish
Symptoms
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What Are Common Symptoms of Down Syndrome? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
Also in Spanish
Diagnosis and Tests
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How Do Health Care Providers Diagnose Down Syndrome? (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? (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)
- Anesthesia & Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
- Dental Issues & Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
- Down Syndrome Myths and Truths (National Down Syndrome Society) Also in Spanish
- Down Syndrome: Education (National Down Syndrome Society)
- Down Syndrome: Eye Problems (American Association for Pediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus)
- Dual Diagnosis of Down Syndrome & Autism (National Down Syndrome Society)
- Ear, Nose & Throat Issues & Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
- Heart and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
- Mental Health Issues & Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
- Sexuality and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society) Also in Spanish
- Speech & Language Therapy for Children and Adolescents with Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
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What Causes Down Syndrome? (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? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
Also in Spanish
Genetics
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Genetics Home Reference: Down syndrome (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 (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
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How Many People Are Affected by or at Risk for Down Syndrome? (National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)
Clinical Trials
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ClinicalTrials.gov: Down Syndrome (National Institutes of Health)
Journal ArticlesReferences and abstracts from MEDLINE/PubMed (National Library of Medicine)
Find an Expert
Children
- Down Syndrome (For Kids) (Nemours Foundation) Also in Spanish
Seniors
- Aging and Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society) - PDF
- Down Syndrome and Alzheimer's Disease (Alzheimer's Association)
Patient Handouts
- Down syndrome Also in Spanish
- Nuchal translucency test Also in Spanish
