Down syndrome, specifically Trisomy 21, is a chromosomal abnormality affecting approximately 250,000 people in the United States. Simply put, there is an extra chromosome in the cells. Instead of the usual 46 chromosomes (23 pairs) in the body’s cells, there is an extra chromosome (a 47th) found on chromosome pair #21. There is nothing inherently wrong with the 47th chromosome; it’s just that it is extra causing imbalances - genetic, biochemical imbalances.

How the extra chromosome got there is still not fully understood. We do know, though, it was no one’s "fault." Nothing you, as your baby’s father or mother, did or didn’t do before or during pregnancy caused your baby to have Down syndrome. While it is true that women over 35 years old are at increased risk for giving birth to a baby with Down syndrome, the majority are born to women under 35 years old.

Down syndrome occurs in all races, cultures, countries, and socioeconomic strata. It affects as many girls as boys. Approximately 1 in 800-1,000 births results in a baby with Down syndrome. Five thousand Down syndrome babies are born each year in the United States.

The Down part of the name of this syndrome is not an adjective, not at all (just look at those smiles of the children!). Down refers to the name of the man who first defined the syndrome, John Langdon Down. He identified it way back in 1866 when life was far different than it is now. So much has happened since that time, so much in the way of advances in scientific research, education, nutrition, medicine, everything. And just in the last few years so much has happened in the fields of gene mapping (what genes on what chromosomes affect what things) and biochemistry. More answers, more help, more good news is popping up all the time.