Down Syndrome (cont.)
Future Directions in Down Syndrome Research
Recently, it has been suggested that children with Down syndrome might
benefit from medical intervention that includes amino acid supplements
and a drug known as Piracetam. Piracetam is a psychoactive drug that some
believe may improve cognitive function. However, there have been no controlled clinical
studies conducted to date using Piracetam to treat Down syndrome in the U.S. or
elsewhere that show its safety and efficacy.
Down syndrome researchers have developed a mouse model to
analyze the developmental consequences of Down syndrome. Mice are used because a
large stretch of mouse chromosome 16 has many genes in common with those on human
chromosome 21. Studying these models at varying stages of development will
enhance our basic understanding of Down syndrome and facilitate the development
of effective interventions and treatment strategies.
Questions and Answers about Down Syndrome
- Is Down syndrome a rare genetic disorder?
Down syndrome occurs in 1 in 800 births.
- Do only older women give birth to babies with Down syndrome?
Researchers have established that the likelihood that a reproductive cell
will contain an extra copy of chromosome 21 increases dramatically as a woman
ages. Therefore, an older mother is more likely than a younger mother to have a
baby with Down syndrome, but older mothers account for only about 9% of all live
births each year and 25% of Down syndrome births.
- Are all people with Down syndrome severely retarded?
Most people with Down syndrome have IQ's that fall in the mild to moderate
range of retardation. Some are so mildly affected that they live independently
and are gainfully employed.
- Can people with Down syndrome receive proper care at home?
Home-based care and community living give them the opportunity to socialize
and benefit from such interactions.
- Should all children with Down syndrome be placed in special education
classrooms?
While federal laws have been established to insure that all handicapped
children have access to public education, children with Down syndrome can and
have been included into a regular classroom.
- Is there a cure for Down syndrome?
Researchers have identified the genes that cause the characteristics of Down
syndrome and are working to further develop mouse models, at varying stages of
development, in order to enhance their basic understanding of Down syndrome and
facilitate the development of effective interventions and treatment strategies.
Next: Additional Resources for Information on Down Syndrome »
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