The number of children with Down syndrome increases

According to US government statistics, from 1979 to 2003, the number of children with Down syndrome has increased by 31% - from 9 to 11, 8 per 100,000 births. Scientists have studied the children themselves and their parents to understand the causes of this surge. It turned out that the reason for this are the recent generations.

American women are increasingly delaying childbearing until later, preferring to engage in a career. "There is a stable relationship between Down syndrome   children and the age of their mothers "- curled a professor of obstetrics and gynecology at the College of Medicine at the Albert Einstein Medical Center Montefiore Dr. Siobhan Dolan.

Down Syndrome   caused by the presence extra chromosome   in the body of the child. Most people believe children with this syndrome are mentally retarded, although this is not always the case. Sometimes children do not even need training in special schools. But the extra chromosome causes a large number of physical problems, including disorders of the heart, dangerous to life and health.

Research on the relationship of age and mothers of Down syndrome in the child will continue, stressed Professor Dolan. "This could be the subject of very extensive research, - he says. - What exactly causes the abnormal division of chromosomes at a certain age? There genetics, very exciting and promising."

Despite the fact that doctors routinely warn women about the possible complications related to pregnancy and later late childbirth , Persistently weaker sex "postpones" the children. Percent late childbirth   steadily increasing in all developed countries

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