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... n of excess hydrogen peroxide, a known cellular toxin that causes progressive cell damage (Whitaker 1997). It is widely accepted that a major disruption of the body's free radical defense system that results in excess production of potent free radicals such as H 2 O 2 would cause generalized progressive cellular damage resulting in both mental and physical disability (Whitaker 1997). Hearing loss occurs more frequently among individuals with Down syndrome than in the normal population. Because affected persons are particularly vulnerable to deficiencies in speech and language development, careful screening and testing for hearing loss should be done and corrective procedures started as early as possible. Compared with early delay in postural-motor development (sitting, standing, walking), the delay in speech an language development encountered by the child with Down syndrome is more noticeable.
In addition, beginning in the second year of life, there is an apparent decline in intelligence because language and speech become increasingly more important in intelligence tests (Bellenir 1996). The reasons for the special difficulty that Down syndrome children have in speech and language are not fully understood. Part of the difficulty stems from the characteristic overlarge and protruding tongue, and in some instanced surgical correction of this condition has been helpful. The acquisition of speech and language also depends upon the patterns of vocal and verbal interactions between child and parents. There is no set regimen of medicines that can prevent or reverse the effects of Down syndrome. The use of exogenous antioxidants, Vitamin A, E, C, selenium, etc. , can protect against damage and literally prevent much of the disability that would be expected to result from it.
Preventing this damage may indeed mean that a child will be healthier, grow at a more normal rate, and have higher mental function (Whitaker 1997). The retardation of the brain can cause many problems. The dendrites are often broken off near the body of the neuron cell, inhibiting and changing both the flow and form of transmitted messages. People suffering from this disease may have to deal with Epilepsy in their middle ages.
Epilepsy occurs in about two percent of people with Down syndrome under the age of 20 years, but rises to about 12 percent in those aged over 55 years. The thyroid gland produces a number of hormones. These control the rate of body metabolism, assist with never cell activity and are essential to normal body growth. An under active Thyroid gland can lead to loss of energy, weight gain, reduced body growth and impaired intellectual abilities.
Thyroid hormones are essential for normal growth. Thyroid disease is common in about 40 percent of people with Down syndrome (Martin 1997). As many as 80 percent of people with Down syndrome may have a hearing loss which can affect language and speech development as well as academic progress. Some of the problems which contribute to the hearing problems include a smaller pinna of the inner ear and a flattened ear which does not catch sound effectively. The outer ear may often have narrower canals which are easily blocked by dry skin or wax. Not all families have easy access to specialized resources for their handicapped child.
In these situations, efforts have focused on enhancing the ability of parents to teach their children speech, language, self-help, and social skills through home-based programs. If effective early intervention programs can be designed and used in the preschool years, the subsequent educational progress of a child with Down syndrome may be altered significantly. A child may be classified as educable, rather than trainable, and therefor qualified for different educational opportunities and strategies. An "educable" person is defined as one who is capable of learning such basic skills as skills as reading and arithmetic. Although trainable (moderately retarded) persons are very limited in educational attainments, they can profit from simple training for self care and vocational tasks (Bellenir 1996). Under Public Law 94 - 12, each state is required to have a goal that "all handicapped children have available to them...
a free public education and related services designed to meet their unique needs. " (Bellenir 1996). This means that all Down syndrome children are given the right to start in a public elementary school. The educable are main streamed into class with the other children, while those who are more limited in their abilities are taught just basic skill for life. In this there are no grade levels or individual grades given. Here they first start to interact socially with other handicapped children. At adolescence, children with Down syndrome tend to be over weight.
This may be due to general body type, lack of physical activity associated with social isolation and reduced outlets for activity, and excessive eating of high calorie foods. A supervised regimen of diet and exercise throughout this period will have a beneficial effect. Parental concern for the social and sexual life of their child with Down syndrome usually intensifies at adolescence. Unless earlier efforts have been highly successful, the child's social isolation increases outside of structured school and other group situations. Although persons with Down syndrome seldom reproduce, it is necessary to provide them with a healthy understanding and orientation toward sexuality. Pregnancy has been rare, probably as a result of sexual isolation in institutions, but sometimes does occur.
About half the infants born of such pregnancies have Down syndrome. Males with trisomy 21 not associated with mysticism or translation have not been known to reproduce (Bellenir 1996). For almost a century, researchers have observed that individuals born with Down syndrome tend to age prematurely. This phenomenon has become more apparent with the increased longevity of affected persons. Because intellectual deterioration is more difficult to assess in retarded individuals, the judgment of premature ageing in those with Down syndrome is based on the emotional deterioration shown in behavior.
An increased number of adults with Down syndrome are living in our communities and seeking health care from physicians. For patients to be enrolled in a medical practice, guardianship status should be determined. These patients should be involved in there own care to as great an extent as possible. Many health problem arise for adults with Down syndrome. Their medical bills are typically taken care of by the government's Medicaid.
Below is a list of special health problems and their incidence for adults with Down syndrome taken from an article on caring for adult who are mentally retarded by Barry Martin. Alzheimer's Disease almost 100 % in those over 40 As indicated in the chart above Alzheimer's disease is a major problem for adults with Down syndrome over forty years of age. A recent test done showed that this is caused by significantly lower levels of glucose metabolite in the parietal and temporal areas. Abnormalities in cerebral metabolism during stimulation appeared in the first cortical regions typically affected in Alzheimer's disease. (Pietrini et al. ).
Bellenir, Karen, ed. 1996 Genetics disorders source book. pp. 1 - 12 Detroit, MI: Omnigraphics Martin, Barry A. Primary care of adults with mental retardation living in the community. American Family Physician, 1997 v. 56, n. 2, pp. 485 (10) Neilson, J. P. Assessment on fetal nucl translucency test for Down's syndrome.
Lancet. 1997 350 (9080), pp. 754 - 755. Pietini, Pietro, et. al. Low glucose metabolism during brain stimulation in older Down syndrome subjects at risk for Alzheimer's disease prior to dementia. American Journal of Psychiatry. 1997 v. 154, n. 8, pp. 1063 (7). Whitaker, Julian M.
D. Down syndrome and nutritional supplements choosing the right one for your child. Health and Healing. June 1997. web Bibliography:
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