In keeping with celebrating Down Syndrome Awareness month, here are some additional facts on Down syndrome:
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Down syndrome occurs when an individual has a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21. This alters the course of development and causes characteristics associated with Down syndrome.
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There are 3 types of Down syndrome
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It is the most commonly occurring chromosome condition
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1 in 691 babies are born in the United States
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The incidences increases with the age of the mother due to high fertility rates in younger women.
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An increased for certain medical conditions such as, congenital heart defects, respiratory, Alzheimer disease and childhood Leukemia.
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Common traits include low muscle tone, small stature, upward slant in the eyes and a single deep crease across the center of the palm.
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Translocation is the only type that is inherited
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Is named after British Doctor John Langdon Downs the first to categorize the common features
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Dr. Jerome Lejeune discovered Down syndrome is a genetic disorder
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A person has 3 copies of chromosome 21 instead of 2
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Is the leading cause of intellectual and developmental disabilities in the United States and the World.
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38% of Americans know someone with Down syndrome
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The average lifespan is 60. In 1983, it was 25.
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39.4 % are in the mild intellectual disability range of 50-70.
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1% are on the border
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A growing number live independently
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Occurs in all races and economic levels.
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Some high school graduates with Down syndrome participate in post-secondary education.
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In the United States, Down syndrome is the least funded major genetic condition