Today, it is no longer uncommon to find someone who has Down Syndrome. It is a condition with no definite cure, which is why individuals need to know more about the nature, risks and symptoms to alleviate very well. Learning about the features and the syndrome itself can help you stay ahead and prevent complications. Here are the characteristics.
Defining Down Syndrome
Down syndrome or Down’s syndrome is also known as trisomy 21. It is a chromosomal disorder triggered by the presence of a portion or the entire extra 21st chromosome. The condition is named after John Langdon Down, a British doctor who described the syndrome back in 1866. The disorder was known as chromosome 21 trisomy by Jerome Lejeune in 1959. A mixture of major and minor structural differences characterizes the condition. In most cases, Down syndrome is linked to problems with physical growth, facial appearance and cognitive ability.
Patients afflicted with Down syndrome usually have below average cognitive ability, ranging anywhere from mild to moderate developmental disabilities. There are also a few who have severe to profound mental disability. About 1 in every 800 to 1,000...