Down syndrome
It is a set of mental and physical characteristics related to having an extra copy of Chromosome 21.There is extra genetic material causes delays in the way a child develops, both mentally and physically.It affects about 1 in every 800 babies.Women age 35 and older have a significantly higher risk of having a child with the condition. At age 30, for example, a woman has about a 1 in 900 chance of conceiving a child with DS. Those odds increase to about 1 in 350 by age 35. By 40 the risk rises to about 1 in 100.
Conditions Associated
The kids with this disorder tend to grow at a slower rate and remain smaller than their peers. Low muscle tone may contribute to sucking and feeding problems, as well as constipation and other digestive issues. They may have delays in speech and self-care skills like feeding, dressing, and toilet teaching. Down syndrome affects kids' ability to learn in different ways, but most have mild to moderate intellectual impairment. They sometimes face host of medical issues that require extra care. For example, almost half of all children born with DS will have a congenital heart defect. Some have problems with hearing and vision.Other medical complications can be thyroid problems, intestinal abnormalities, seizure disorders, respiratory problems, obesity, an increased susceptibility to infection, and a higher risk of childhood leukemia.
Management
It is very important to stimulate, encourage, and educate children with Down syndrome from infancy. Programs for young children with special needs are offered in many communities. Early intervention programs, including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy can be very helpful.Behavioral training can help people with Down syndrome and their families deal with the frustration, anger, and compulsive behavior that often occur. Parents and caregivers should learn to help a person with Down syndrome deal with frustration. At the same time, it is important to encourage independence.Physical therapy may teach movement skills.
Down syndrome and Alzheimer’s disease
People with Down syndrome experience premature aging. They show physical changes related to aging about 20 to 30 years ahead of people of the same age in the general population. As a result, Alzheimer's disease is far more common in people with Down syndrome than in the regular population. Adults with Down syndrome often are in their mid to late 40s or early 50s when Alzheimer's symptoms first appear. People in the general population don't usually experience symptoms until they are in their late 60s.
According to research and estimates 25% or more of individuals with Down syndrome over age 35 show the signs and symptoms of Alzheimer's-type dementia. This percentage increases as the person gets older. The incidence of Alzheimer's disease in people with Down syndrome is estimated to be three to five times greater than that of the general population.
The extra extra gene caused by the abnormal third chromosome of Down syndrome is regarded as a factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease. It can be also due to the early aging of the Down syndrome brain.
The symptoms of Alzheimer's disease may be expressed differently among adults with Down syndrome:
- Memory loss is not always noted
- A person with Down syndrome may begin to have seizures when he or she never had them before
- There can be changes in mental processes such as thinking, reasoning, and judgment
- Difficulty learning and retrieving new information
- Spatial disorientation
- Depressed Mood
- Worsened ability to express and understand language (vocabulary shrinks even further, communicates in short phrases or single words)
- Difficulty recognizing familiar people and objects
- Poor judgment and worsened attention to personal safety
- Mood and behavior fluctuations (anxiety, paranoia, hallucinations, restlessness, agitation, wandering
- Urinary incontinence and possible fecal incontinence
- Swallowing dysfunction
- Mobility changes
Many of the common conditions related to aging and Down syndrome can be mistaken as dementia if not identified properly like hearing loss, low thyroid function, vision loss, pain, sleep apnea, etc. If the individual shows change compared to their baseline memory or functioning, it is important to consult with the primary care doctor to assess for the presence of these other potentially treatable or correctable conditions.
