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Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21, is a congenital disorder - that is, it occurs during fetal development, but is not inherited. It is named for British physician John Langdon Haydon Down, who first described the condition in 1866. In 1959, Dr. Jerome LeJeune of France, discovered that Down Syndrome was caused by a chromosomal anomaly, specifically the transmission of an extra 21st chromosome. The overall incidence of Down syndrome is about 1 in 700 live births. Almost half of the children with Down syndrome are born to mothers over the age of 35 years.
Down syndrome is characterized by slow physical development, moderate to severe mental retardation, and skull and facial features that are somewhat flattened. Other physical characteristics include slanted eyes, a depressed nose bridge, low-set ears, and a large, furrowed tongue. The hands are broad and short, with a single crease, known as the simian crease, across the palm. Other common physical abnormalities include congenital heart disease, vision problems, and susceptibility to acute leukemia. While females with Down syndrome may menstruate and be fertile, males are infertile.
Although the degree of mental retardation varies greatly among different individuals with Down syndrome, the average IQ falls within the range of 50 to 60. Generally, children with Down syndrome are able to learn everyday life skills and can be raised at home. Special education and training allow many individuals with Down syndrome to lead happy, useful, and love-filled lives. People with Down syndrome can live to middle or old age, however, as adults, they may be prone to developing pneumonia and other lung diseases.
The following nutrients are suggested for individuals with Down syndrome who are 12 years of age or older. Persons with malabsorption problems should consult a health care provider before starting any nutritional program.
NUTRITIONAL & HOLISTIC RECOMMENDATIONS
RECOMMENDATIONS
Be patient when feeding a child with Down Syndrome, and be sure to provide a balanced diet. Include fresh and whole foods that are rich in vegetable proteins, as well as food that are high in magnesium, such as fresh green vegetables, figs, meat, fish and seafood, nuts and seeds, tofu, blackstrap molasses, apples, kelp, soybeans, cornmeal, rice, apricots, and brewer's yeast. Reduce consumption of foods high in gluten, such as wheat, rye, barley, and oats. Avoid refined foods, sugars, dairy products, and alcohol.
Use liquid or spray forms of supplements for a child with Down syndrome.
Hold and nurture your child as much as possible.
Provide plenty of exercise, including deep-breathing exercises, daily. This helps to oxygenate the brain.
Provide environmental stimulation. Play music in your home, for example (studies suggest that classical music is best). Provide objects and toys that are safe to handle and that invite exploration. Talk to and interact with your child, and involve him or her as much as possible in whatever you happen to be doing (if you have other children, encourage them to do the same).
Set realistic goals for your child, and remember the emotional needs of your other children.
Care for the child with Down syndrome depends on the degree of mental and physical impairment. Carefully planned programs to promote development of motor and mental skills are important. Since learning potential is greatest during infancy, an early stimulation program of exercises based on the child's ability is necessary for teaching gross motor skills.
The risk of giving birth to a Down syndrome child increases markedly after the age of 34. Amniocentesis tests may be suggested or recommended if you become pregnant past this age.
Additional information on Down syndrome, parent support groups, and early intervention programs for children with Down syndrome is available from: The National Down Syndrome Society (NDSS)
666 Broadway
New York, NY 10012
1-800-221-4602
1-212-460-9330
1-212-979-2873 (fax)
Website: www.ndss.org
ALTERNATIVE APPROACHES FOR DOWN SYNDROME
There are a number of revolutionary treatments to maximize the learning potential and physical capabilities of those with Down syndrome that have shown significant success and have been gaining increasing scientific attention in recent years.
NUTRITIONAL APPROACH
The use of nutritional supplementation to help boost the metabolism of those with Down syndrome began with North American physician Dr. Henry Turkel in the 1950s. To address the unique biochemistry of those with Down syndrome, he began treating affected children with a combination of vitamins, minerals, and hormones. Although his program achieved some success, his work was generally rejected or ignored by mainstream scientists.
However, a growing population of parents of children with Down syndrome continued to use Dr. Turkel's nutritional program. Eventually, Kent MacLeod, a pharmaceutical biochemist and owner of Nutri-Chem Labs in Ottawa, Canada, learned of Dr. Turkel's formula after a number of parents asked him to evaluate the protocol. MacLeod and the biochemical team at Nutri-Chem joined with Dr. Turkel and other researchers in further developing and refining the original supplemental. A nutritional formula known as MSBPlus was the eventual result.
MSBPlus is a formula of vitamins, minerals, amino acids, antioxidants, and enzymes that targets essential nutrients missing from the biochemical makeup of the person with Down syndrome. This supplement, which can be custom-formulated to meet individual age and metabolic needs, has met with marked success. Research is ongoing. The University of Miami School of Medicine is now collaborating with Nutri-Chem clinical trials and studies on Down syndrome. One long-term, double-blind study will examine the cognitive development and language skills of children with Down syndrome who are taking MSBPlus.
Nutri-Chem is also working with Dr. Marie Peeters, a pediatrician and former member of the Institute de Progenese in Paris. Dr. Peeters was an associate of Dr. Jerome LaJaune, the scientist who discovered the cause of Down syndrome. In an effort to further study the effects of nutritional supplements (particularly amino acids) on those with this disorder, Dr. Peeters is involved in clinical trials.
For additional information on MSBPlus formula, or to receive information on the connection between nutrition and Down syndrome, you can contact:Nutri-Chem Labs
1303 Richmond Rd
Ottawa, ON Canada K2B 7Y4
1-888-384-7855
1-613-820-9065
1-613-829-2226
Website: www.nutrichem.org
The work of Dr. Turkel also influenced Jack Warner, M.D., F.A.A.P., founder of Warner House, Inc., a not-for-profit center for the clinical study and treatment of Down syndrome. Together with medical colleagues, biochemists, and other medical professionals, Dr. Warner developed a metabolic treatment called HAP CAPS for children with Down syndrome. This formula is a supplemental yet integral part of a multidisciplinary treatment approach that includes examination and evaluation by a physical therapist, a developmental optometrist, a clinical psychologist, a speech advisor, and a nutritionist, under the recommendation of a primary care pediatrician, plus a system of periodic reports, tests, and doctor's observations. In addition to seeing patients regularly at the clinic in Fullerton, California, the Warner House staff also travels across the United States to meet with patients in many cities.
Dr. Warner reports that data from over twelve years of research and treatment show the Warner House treatment protocol has resulted in changes in the physical features of children with Down syndrome, a reduction in the frequency of infections that typically affect these children, and an improvement in their cognitive ability.
More information about Warner House can be obtained by contacting:Dr. Forrest "Jack" Warner
1023 E. Chapman Ave
Fullerton, CA 92831
1-714-441-2600
Website: www.warnerhouse.com
DEVELOPMENTAL STIMULATION APPROACH
The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, offers parents of children with Down syndrome a specialized program for helping their children develop and maximize their potential. In this program, parents are the key players in a home therapeutic approach that involves providing simple yet intensive neurological stimulation for their children. A carefully designed nutritional regimen is also an integral part of the program.
Before beginning the program, parents attend a five-day course of lectures and demonstrations at The Institutes. They learn about the Developmental Profile, a measuring instrument that clearly shows visual, auditory, tactile, mobility, language, and manual abilities a child should attain by certain ages, and they learn specific techniques to use in working on different skill areas with their children. Once home, the parents carry out an individualized brain-development program tailored to the needs of their child. Carried out properly, these techniques have produced most encouraging results, often leading children with Down syndrome to perform even above levels exhibited by most average children.
For more information on this program, contact:The Registrar
The Institutes for the Achievement of Human Potential (IAHP)
8801 Stenton Avenue
Wyndmoor, PA 19038
1-800-736-4663
1-215-233-2050
1-215-233-9312 (fax)
Website: www.iahp.org
RESOURCE LINKS
MoonDragon's Down Syndrome Information
MoonDragon's Down Syndrome Overview
MoonDragon's Down Syndrome Alternative Approaches & Nutrition
Riverbend Down Syndrome Parent Support Group
Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS)
Welcoming Babies With Down Syndrome
March of Dimes
Washington State Genetics Documents
MoonDragon's ObGyn Information - Amniocentesis Information
Photo from Diagnosis in color Obstetrics and Gynecology by Symonds and Macpherson.
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