Decreased mental capacity

- In addition to having a low to normal IQ, people with Down Syndrome have issues with hippocampal processes, such as explicit long-term and verbal short term memory. Implicit procedural long-term memory is unaffected in Down Syndrome persons.

Cognitive characteristics of Down syndrome

Persons with Down Syndrome have specific anatomical features:

 - Round head
- Flattened face
- Poorly developed nasal ridge
- Enlarged tongue
- Small, broad hands with short fingers
- Stunted growth

Physical characteristics of Down syndrome

Developmental delays

- Individuals with Down syndrome typically learn to walk around 3-4 years of age 
- Around 90% of kids with Down syndrome talk by age 5

Developmental characteristics of Down syndrome

Among individuals with Down syndrome...
- Around 30% have congenital heart defects, the most common being an incomplete separation of the heart chambers (known as atrioventricular septal defect)
- About 5-10% have seizures
- Gastrointestinal defects
- Compromised immune systems
- Obesity
- Lowered average life expectancy - death, on average, occurs by age 50
- Most get Alzheimer’s Disease by around age 35-40

Comorbidities of Down syndrome

As a result of atypical chromosomal composition, the characteristics of individuals with Down syndrome present in many aspects of their development, both physical and cognitive. Individuals with Down syndrome are characterized by…
 - Physical characteristics of Down syndrome
 - Cognitive characteristics of Down syndrome
- Developmental characteristics of Down syndrome
- Comorbidities of Down syndrome


University of Virginia, Charlottesville

Down syndrome is a developmental disorder that causes varying degrees of physical and cognitive disability. It is the most common genetic condition and is caused by a chromosomal abnormality in which there is an extra copy of chromosome 21. 

Down Syndrome

Characteristics of Down syndrome

The science, research, and biological evaluation of Down syndrome allow us to understand it as we can today. Ways in which scientists have made progress in Down syndrome studies can be appreciated through
- the neurobiology of Down syndrome
- Genes affected by the triplication of chromosome 21 and their links to Down syndrome symptoms
- Mouse Model of Down syndrome: Ts65Dn
- Emerging treatments of Down syndrome


The Science of Down syndrome

Down syndrome is caused by the presence of an extra copy of the 23rd chromosome, resulting in an excessive number of chromosomes: 47, as opposed to 46. However, variations of this chromosomal abnormality exist. And though it is the most common chromosomal abnormality, births with Down syndrome are random and not linked to any health or socioeconomic patterns. We can best explore the variations of the occurrence of Down syndrome through:  
- Types of Down syndrome
- Trisomy 21
- Frequency 
- Inheritance 
- Factors that increase risk 

What causes Down syndrome?

Individuals with disabilities and their families and caretakers often identify with the umbrella term of the “Down syndrome community.” To understand this disability, it is important to understand the cultural and social characteristics of the community. We can understand the community by considering how the Down syndrome community prefers to be communicated with, the employment and education trends, disparities in outcomes, how individuals with Down syndrome see themselves and each other, and the experiences of caretakers. 

Culture of Down syndrome

The life expectancy for people with down syndrome has increased from 10 years of age in 1960 to 47 in 2007. It is still lower than people without it because of the additional health conditions and lower birth weight associated with this syndrome. Race has also been seen to impact how long one can live with this condition. One explanation for this increase in life expectancy is that people have stopped institutionalizing those with down syndrome.

Life expectancy for people with Down Syndrome

Such factors may include:
- chemotherapy;
- cigarette smoking;
- chemicals that disrupt hormone-releasing glands;
- hormones the person receives through treatment for example.

Environmental factors that can influence probability of Down Syndrome

Dementia is common in adults with Down Syndrome, but it is difficult to receive this diagnosis. It may be manifested in different ways depending on the individual. 

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