For People With Down Syndrome, Longer Life Has Complications

[flashl]

Doctors had predicted that Mr. Thomas, born with Down syndrome, would be lucky to reach his 10th birthday. His longevity has come at a price, though.

Two years ago, it was determined that Mr. Thomas, at 48, had early-onset Alzheimer’s disease, adding new challenges of dementia to his already significant disabilities.

In a cruel coincidence that scientists do not yet fully understand, research has shown that people with Down syndrome, a chromosomal abnormality, have a much higher incidence of Alzheimer’s disease at an early age. Some studies have said that 60 to 75 percent of people over age 60 with Down syndrome will have Alzheimer’s, though Dr. Ira Lott, who is in charge of the Down syndrome program at the School of Medicine at the University of California, Irvine, said those studies have been limited in scope.

So as advances in health care have extended the average life expectancy of people with Down syndrome to more than 50 years today from 25 in 1983, doctors and family members are now struggling to cope with a double dose of disability.

NY Times

[woodsprite]

1. I always thought "Longer life has complications" was true for all of us. n/t

[aquart]

2. And by then their parents are dead.

[China_cat]

3. A woman we see at the dog park every week

has a Down syndrome child. He's 17. Last month he was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer's. I can only imagine that his mother would have preferred it not to happen until he was 48 rather than have it steal what is still his childhood.