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For people with Down syndrome, family members, caregivers and professionals.

Duration: 6 ms, Number of Results: 49

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Hypothyroidism and Hyperthyroidism

Author: Ima V. Jonkheer, DO and Brian Chicoine, MD - Family Medicine, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Key Points  The thyroid gland is part of the endocrine system. It is a gland that is in the neck. Thyroid function affects or has an impact on many body functions and, therefore, abnormal thy

Connective Tissue and Down Syndrome

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Key Points Connective tissue is the tissue that helps hold our bodies together. Connective tissue is different in people with Down syndrome compared to others.  People with Down syndrome have

Tremors in People with Down Syndrome

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Key Points Tremors are repetitive involuntary movements. Tremors can be mild and cause limited disruption or more severe and restricting. There are many causes for tremors. An evaluation by a health p

A Comprehensive Review of the Relationship Between Oral Health and Down Syndrome

Author: Botero et al. - Current Oral Health Reports (2024)

Abstract Purpose of Review:  Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) may be more susceptible to oral disorders as a result of a combination of genetic factors, immunological disturbances, anatomi

Temperature Regulation in People with Down Syndrome

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Key Points  How the body manages (regulates) body temperature is different in people with Down syndrome compared to people without Down syndrome. The difference in body temperature regulation

Pain in People with Down Syndrome

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Key Points People with Down syndrome experience pain but some individuals report it less often than people without Down syndrome. There are a variety of reasons why people with Down syndrome may repor

Changes in Gait (Ambulation, Walking)

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Key Points A change in gait (walking) is a change seen in many people with Down syndrome. There are many possible causes for those changes. Family or other observers can play a critical role in assess

Chronic Cough in Adults with Down Syndrome

Author: Ravi Shah, MD and Brian Chicoine, MD - Family Medicine, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Key Points Chronic cough is a cough that lasts more than eight weeks (four weeks in a child). There are many reasons for a chronic cough. Three common causes in people with Down syndrome (DS) include

Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures or Fake Seizures

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

We periodically get asked questions about “fake seizures.” They have also been called “pseudo-seizures” but are now more accurately called non-epileptic seizure

Eating Refusal

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

We received the following question:  I have a son with Down syndrome. He had testicular cancer in his late 20s. Since then, he seems to have developed an eating disorder. He always feels he i

Brushing Teeth Visuals

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

The visuals under the headers remind us of the steps for brushing our teeth. Tap or click on the headers to find printable versions for electric and manual toothbrushes. There are also versio

Perspectives on Pain in Down Syndrome

Author: Shaikh et al. - Medicinal Research Reviews (2023)

Abstract Down syndrome (DS) or trisomy 21 is a genetic condition often accompanied by chronic pain caused by congenital abnormalities and/or conditions, such as osteoarthritis, recurrent infections, a

Behavior Changes in Individuals with Down Syndrome Webinar Recording (2/23/2023)

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD, Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, and Abby Rowley, LCSW - Adult Down Syndrome Center

The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Brian Chicoine, MD, Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, and Abby Rowley, LCSW, on February 23, 2023. In this webinar, the presenters define, iden

Getting an EEG Visual

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

This Getting an EEG visual  explains what happens when we have an electroencephalogram (EEG) done. It can help individuals with Down syndrome know what to expect when going for an EEG. Additi

Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar)

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What is hypoglycemia? Hypoglycemia is the medical term for low blood sugar or low glucose. Blood sugar or glucose levels can be measured with a blood test. Healthcare providers make the diagnosis of h

Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (AD/HD)

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD, and Dennis McGuire, PhD, LCSW - Adult Down Syndrome Center

*This article was adapted from  Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Challenges, 2nd Edition . What is attention-deficit/hyperactivi

Acrocyanosis

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What is acrocyanosis? Acrocyanosis is the bluish discoloration of the extremities (usually the hands and/or feet) due to decreased oxygen being delivered to those areas. The small blood vessels in the

Taking My Thyroid Medication Visual

Author: Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapist, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Several endocrine conditions, including hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), are more common in people with Down syndrome compared to people without Down syndrome. Levothyroxine (Synthroid, Tirosint,

Unexplained Weight Loss

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

What can cause unexplained weight loss? We were sent a question about unexplained weight loss. We are sharing some information here for general knowledge and/or information that can be used in consult

Prevalence of Endocrine Disorders Among 6078 Individuals with Down Syndrome in the United States

Author: Rivelli et al. - Journal of Patient-Centered Research and Reviews

Abstract Findings from a recent study describing prevalence of common disease conditions in the largest documented cohort of individuals with Down syndrome (DS) in the United States strongly suggested

How to Brush Your Teeth Video

Author: Bridget Brown, Blase Brown, DDS, MA, and Adult Down Syndrome Center - Video

In this video, Bridget describes and demonstrates how to brush your teeth using a manual toothbrush and an electric toothbrush. Our Resource Library also has Brushing Teeth Visuals  that corr

Dental Implants

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

We sometimes receive questions about dental implants. A small number of people with Down syndrome seen in our office have reported that they opted to get dental implants, and most of these individuals

Going to the Dentist Social Stories

Author: Pennsylvania ASERT - Autism Services, Education, Resources, and Training Collaborative

The social stories linked below are intended to help individuals with Down syndrome and other intellectual or developmental disabilities prepare for and feel more comfortable with going to the dentist

Gout in People with Down Syndrome

Author: Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

Gout is more common in people with Down syndrome (DS) (as indicated by the studies at this link  and this link ). Gout is a type of inflammatory arthritis caused by

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