{"id":667,"date":"2025-11-09T15:52:13","date_gmt":"2025-11-09T15:52:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nhatamlyhoc.com\/?p=667"},"modified":"2025-12-03T08:42:50","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T08:42:50","slug":"down-syndrome","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/psychologistvietnam.com\/en\/down-syndrome\/","title":{"rendered":"What Is Down Syndrome? Causes and Common Symptoms"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n

What is Down Syndrome? Understanding the Common Chromosomal Disorder<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

Down syndrome<\/strong> is a genetic condition caused by having a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21<\/strong> in a person\u2019s cells.
Normally, each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes<\/strong> \u2014 half inherited from each parent. When an individual has an additional chromosome 21, it affects how their body and brain develop.<\/p>\r\n

This condition causes lifelong intellectual disability and developmental delays<\/strong>. It is the most common genetic chromosomal disorder<\/strong> and one of the leading causes of learning difficulties in children.
People with Down syndrome may also experience other health issues, such as heart defects<\/strong> and digestive system problems<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n

What causes down syndrome?<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

The exact cause<\/strong> of the extra chromosome 21 is still unknown<\/strong>. However, researchers have identified certain risk factors that may increase the likelihood of having a baby with Down syndrome.<\/p>\r\n

1. Maternal Age<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
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    The age of the mother<\/strong> is the only factor strongly linked to Down syndrome caused by nondisjunction<\/em> or mosaicism<\/em>.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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    Although the risk increases with maternal age, 80% of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35<\/strong> due to higher birth rates in this group.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

    2. Genetic Origin<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
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      The extra chromosome can come from either parent<\/strong>, though about 5% of cases<\/strong> are traced to the father.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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      The condition is not caused by environmental factors<\/strong> or lifestyle choices before or during pregnancy.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

      3. Global Prevalence<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n
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        Down syndrome remains the most common chromosomal disorder<\/strong>, occurring in about 1 in every 700 births<\/strong>.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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        Between 1979 and 2003, the number of babies born with Down syndrome increased by approximately 30%<\/strong> worldwide.<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

        Symptoms and characteristics of down syndrome<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

        Each person with Down syndrome is unique<\/strong>. The level of developmental delay and intellectual disability can range from mild to severe.
        Some individuals are generally healthy, while others face serious medical conditions<\/strong> such as heart disease or respiratory issues.<\/p>\r\n

        Common physical features<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n

        Although not everyone with Down syndrome shares the same traits, some of the most recognizable features include:<\/p>\r\n

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          Flattened facial profile<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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          Small head and short neck<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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          Protruding tongue<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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          Upward slanting eyelids (palpebral fissures)<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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          Small or abnormally shaped ears<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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          Poor muscle tone (hypotonia)<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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          Broad, short hands with a single crease across the palm<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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          Short fingers, small hands and feet<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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          Excessive flexibility<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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          Tiny white spots on the iris (Brushfield\u2019s spots)<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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          Short stature or slower growth rate<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

          Intellectual and developmental signs<\/strong><\/h3>\r\n

          Children and adults with Down syndrome often experience:<\/p>\r\n

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            Delayed speech and language development<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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            Slower learning pace<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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            Challenges with memory and concentration<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n

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            Delayed motor skills (e.g., sitting, walking, grasping)<\/p>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n

            Despite these challenges, many people with Down syndrome lead happy, fulfilling lives<\/strong> with the right educational and medical support.<\/p>\r\n

            Final thoughts<\/strong><\/h2>\r\n

            Down syndrome<\/strong> is not an illness but a genetic variation<\/strong> that affects how a person develops.
            With early intervention, inclusive education, and compassionate support from families and communities, children with Down syndrome can thrive and contribute meaningfully to society.<\/p>\r\n

            <\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

            What is Down Syndrome? Understanding the Common Chromosomal Disorder Down syndrome is a genetic condition caused by having a full or partial extra copy of chromosome 21 in a person\u2019s cells.Normally, each cell contains 23 pairs of chromosomes \u2014 half inherited from each parent. When an individual has an additional chromosome 21, it affects how […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":21774,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_siteseo_robots_primary_cat":"187","footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-667","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-disorders"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/psychologistvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/667","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/psychologistvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/psychologistvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psychologistvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psychologistvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=667"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/psychologistvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/667\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psychologistvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/21774"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/psychologistvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=667"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psychologistvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=667"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/psychologistvietnam.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=667"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}