GLOBAL Medical Care Guidelines Out For Adults With Down Syndrome

Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal disorder in the United States. Children with Down syndrome had a short and struggling life, especially a few decades back. The life span of children with down syndrome was just 10 years in the 1960s. 

The life spans have stretched to 60 years, thanks to medical advancements, awareness among parents, and caretakers. However, there were no guidelines for treating adults with Down syndrome until recently. A guide for caretakers and parents with a new set of advice for the medical needs of adults with this syndrome. 

The guide was developed by the Global Down Syndrome Foundation (GLOBAL), one of the leading advocacy and non-profit organization dedicated to improving people’s health with this condition. The foundation worked thoroughly with the clinical directors of some largest Down syndrome medical centers, as reported by the Washington Post. 

GLOBAL also worked with many other experts and parents to prepare the guide. Also, the family publication took suggestions and pieces of advice published in a peer-reviewed article in JAMA. 

The guide covered the nine most common types of health issues faced by adults with Down syndrome. This included diabetes, dementia, behavioral issues, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis, thyroid issues, instability of the bones, and celiac disease. 

The guidelines published by GLOBAL reflected the importance of specific treatment programs for patients and avoiding misdiagnoses. However, some risk factors were still unclear, and treatments could be dangerous for the patients, as many experts said. 

On the other hand, the foundation said that there was no published research evidence that supported the queries posed by the medical authors. 

One of the biggest problems that people with Down syndrome face is discrimination. Also, despite being the most common chromosomal disorder in the United States, Down syndrome research has been underfunded as compared to other genetic conditions. 

According to the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this chromosomal disorder affects about 1 in every 700 babies born in the United States. This number highlights the people who face disparity throughout their lives. 

But things have been changing for quite some time. Because of the efforts of parents, physicians, caretakers, and other experts involved, more research is being undertaken today. There is still a need for more awareness as many medical providers are still dependent on inaccurate or outdated information about adults with Down syndrome.