Patient's question:
The daughter of a friend of mine has Down syndrome. It was difficult for her parents to get pregnant, but now they see that children of the same age are already running, yet her daughter, who is 4 or 5 years old, still cannot walk. How can Down syndrome be treated?Doctor's answer:
Hello! Down syndrome is one of the first syndromes associated with intellectual disability. In fact, ancient people already had a good understanding of the clinical manifestations of Down syndrome. Archaeologists unearthed skulls showing typical signs of Down syndrome from the 7th century. In some sketches from the 16th century, children resembling Down syndrome can also be seen. In 1866, Dr. John Langdon Down provided a comprehensive description and publication of the typical clinical manifestations of Down syndrome, including the similar facial features of these children. Therefore, the syndrome was named after Dr. John Langdon Down. In 1959, researchers confirmed that Down syndrome is caused by a chromosomal abnormality (an extra 21st chromosome).