October is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. If you or a family member have Down syndrome and need assistive technology for learning, time management, or long-term planning, check out these apps lists from our database:
- Apps for Down Syndrome
- BridgingApps for Middle and High School Students with Down Syndrome
- BridgingApps for Young Children with Down Syndrome
Growing Older with Down Syndrome
As recently as 1960, the life expectancy for a person with Down syndrome was a mere 10 years. In 1983, it was 25 years. By 2007, it had risen to 47 years. Today, it’s 60 years and still rising.
The increase isn’t just due to better medical care and assistive technology. In the not-so-good old days, being born with Down syndrome often meant being relegated to an “institution,” cut off from nurturing, education, and social opportunities. Given little to live for, patients understandably fell short of their potential lifespans.
Today, people with Down syndrome are much more likely to be raised in real homes and included in larger communities. As a result, their lives are longer and more meaningful.
However, they and their families also face new challenges.
- Longer life comes with the likelihood of outliving parents and childhood caregivers—which makes it more important than ever for people with Down syndrome to learn independent-living skills.
- After age 50, people become more vulnerable to certain health problems, including heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer’s disease.
It doesn’t help that most people with Down syndrome are already prone to extra health problems, such as heart trouble, sleep apnea, or vision disabilities. Now, doctors are recognizing additional high risks for “older” illnesses. For example, around half of people with Down syndrome will develop Alzheimer’s if they live past sixty. Fewer than 12 percent of the general population will.
Medical Research Today
For more details on the Down syndrome–Alzheimer’s connection, see these resources:
- Alzheimer’s Disease & Down Syndrome (National Down Syndrome Society)
- Down Syndrome and Alzheimer’s Disease (Alzheimer’s Association)
- Frequently Asked Questions about Phase I Clinical Trial: an investigational vaccine for treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in people with Down syndrome (Massachusetts General Hospital)
- Alzheimer’s Vaccine ABATE Study (Massachusetts General Hospital)
Massachusetts General is also home to an extensive Down Syndrome Research Program that offers various resources, including:
- Additional research studies and surveys seeking participants with Down syndrome
- An online Patient Resources library with recommended reading for expectant, new, and bereaved parents
- An MGH Down Syndrome Program e-newsletter for keeping up to date on medical news and research opportunities
The program’s Mission and Vision Statements sum up what should be everyone’s attitude toward Down syndrome: “We are a collaborative, multidisciplinary team, serving people with Down syndrome of all ages and their families. We provide evidence-based clinical care, education, and cutting-edge research so that individuals with Down syndrome can reach their full potential. Our passion is to provide healthcare, research, and education that contribute to a world in which all people with Down syndrome are accepted, celebrated and have the opportunity to fully realize their potential.”
Additional resources:
- Down Syndrome Education International (DSE)
- Down Syndrome Life Expectancy Is Higher, But Not For Everyone (Nationwide Children’s Hospital)
- Living with Down Syndrome (CDC.gov)
- National Association for Down Syndrome