Down Syndrome Overview
Down syndrome is a inherited disorder caused by abnormal cell division leading to increased total or partial reproduction of chromosome 21. This excess genetic material causes the growth changes and physical features of Down syndrome.
Down syndrome varies in severity among people with it, causing mental disability and lifelong developmental delays. It is the most common genetic chromosomal disorder that causes learning disabilities in children. They also often cause other medical abnormalities, including heart and digestive disorders.
The genetic basis of Down syndrome
Twenty-three pairs of chromosomes are available for a total of 46. Half of the chromosomes come from the egg (mother) and the other half from the sperm (father). The XY chromosome pair includes an X chromosome from the egg and a Y chromosome from the sperm. In Down syndrome, an additional copy of chromosome 21 is produced, resulting in three copies instead of two.
A good understanding of Down syndrome and early interventions can significantly improve the quality of life of children and adults with the disorder and help them lead a life full of achievements.
Mental disabilities
Most children with Down syndrome have moderate to moderate cognitive impairment. Language lags, and both short and long-term memory is affected.
Down syndrome in the world
Each year, about 200,487 children with Down syndrome are born in the world, i.e., every day approximately 549 children with Down syndrome are born at the rate of one child per 700 live births, based on the fact that the world’s average live birth rate per year is 19,081 per 1,000 and the world’s population is approximately 7.355 billion and the incidence of Down syndrome is approximately 1 per 700 live births.
The most common type of Down syndrome is the triangular type (called the common type) and occurs in 95% of cases and rare species are chromosomal transmission (representing 4%) The mosaic (multicellular) represents 1% of cases.
It is noteworthy that 80% of children with Down Syndrome are born to mothers as young as 35 years of age, because mothers of this age are more productive than those who are older than this age in general.
It has been scientifically proven that the likelihood of having a child with Down syndrome increases as the mother ages. People with Down syndrome live longer, with their average age rising to 65, some of them living in their 70s or 80s. After God, thanks to the medical development in the treatment of infections and the improvement of surgical and therapeutic intervention for congenital heart problems.
Down syndrome in the Arab world (Report of the Arab Center for Genetic Studies)
Every year, between 14,118 and 15,347 children with Down syndrome are born in the Arab world, i.e. approximately 39 to 42 children with Down syndrome are born in the Arab world, with an average of one child per 700 live births, based on the fact that the average live birth rate in the Arab world per year is 26.43 per 1,000 and the population of the Arab world is approximately 400 million.
According to the down syndrome database record at the Arab Center for Genetic Studies in the UAE, 6 Arab countries have higher rates of Down syndrome than their global counterparts. For example, this rate is one child for every 319 live births in the United Arab Emirates, which is relatively high,
but close to the figures in Oman, which is one for every 500 births of a living child and one child for every 546 births to a living child.
Similarly, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait recorded rates similar to these percentages, respectively, at the rate of one child per 554 births of a live child (about 900 children per year) and one child for every 581 births to a live child.
Arabs in Palestine also have similar rates of one child for every 547 live births. Although the number slower than in the Arab countries due to the practice of termination of pregnancy in 29.4% of cases to prevent new cases of this syndrome.
Arabs in Palestine also have similar rates of one child for every 547 live births. Although the number slower than in the Arab countries due to the practice of termination of pregnancy in 29.4% of cases to prevent new cases of this syndrome.
Average age of people with Down Syndrome
Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome increased significantly between 1960 and 2007. In 1960, the average age of people with Down syndrome was about 10 years. In 2007, the average age of people with Down syndrome was about 47 years.
Ages are in God’s hands, but there are many factors that can affect the average age of people with Down syndrome, including:
Infants with Down Syndrome who also have congenital heart problems are five times more likely to die in the first year of life than infants with Down Syndrome and who do not have those problems.
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