Who is at risk of having a baby with Down syndrome?
Down syndrome can affect people from any ethnic group. A couple’s likelihood of having a baby with Down syndrome increases as the woman gets older. For example, when a woman is 35, Down syndrome occurs in about one of every 200 births. By age 40, Down syndrome occurs in almost one in 100 births. Researchers think older eggs (a woman carries all of her eggs from birth) may have problems sorting out the correct number of chromosomes. In addition, people have an increased risk if they carry a translocation involving chromosome 21. Every child with Down syndrome should have a chromosome test to let the parents know if they might be translocation carriers. Carriers have a much higher risk of having more children with Down syndrome no matter how old they are. Is there a cure? No, but the medical complications associated with Down syndrome can be treated and managed. Treatment for Down syndrome is specific to an individual’s needs. For example, a child or adult may need heart surgery to corre
