Down Syndrome Health Care

Health Issues

Listed below are some, but not all, medical conditions that often affect individuals with Down syndrome.  This does not mean that every person with Down syndrome has all of these medical conditions.  Some may experience a majority of these conditions, while others experience very little of them.

• Between 40 to 60% of all infants with Down syndrome have some type of heart defect.
• Hypotonia (low muscle tone) is another common feature, which is the cause of not only delayed gross motor development like crawling and walking, but also constipation and gastroesophageal reflux.
• Seizures occur in 5 to 10% of people with Down syndrome.
• Those with Down syndrome are at greater risk for leukemia, sleep apnea, hypothyroidism, celiac disease, vision and hearing issues, and diabetes.
• The prevalence of autism or autistic spectrum disorders is estimated to be between 5 and 7%.
• Atlantoaxial instability (AAI), which is caused by excess movement between the first and second vertebrae in the neck, occurs in approximately 15% of youths and causes a potential risk of spinal cord damage.

This is the first generation of individuals with Down syndrome to age. Many health care professionals are just beginning to understand what is “typical” aging and what may be certain conditions specific to Down syndrome. For example, there has been a tendency to over-diagnose Alzheimer’s disease in those with Down syndrome because there is a close connection. Yet only 20 to 25% of all adults with Down syndrome show any of the dementia or cognitive decline that is the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.
An excellent source of information for Down syndrome health issues is www.ds-health.com.