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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

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Urinary Retention

Author: Agni Vlahos, MD and Brian Chicoine, MD - Family Medicine

Key Points Urinary retention is the build-up of excessive urine in the bladder. It appears to be more common in people with Down syndrome. A common reason for urinary retention in people with Down syn

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Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)

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

Key Points Urinary tract infections (UTIs) are infections of the urethra, bladder, ureters, and/or kidneys. People with Down syndrome have risk factors for getting a UTI due to issues related to not e

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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

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Regression in Persons with Down Syndrome

Author: Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group - USA - Current Consensus Update for Families

Regression in Persons with Down Syndrome: Current Consensus Update for Families   The Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group - USA (DSMIG-USA) developed a consensus update for families on Down

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Tips for Going Up and Down Stairs Safely

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

Going up and down stairs can be challenging for some people with Down syndrome. Aging, differences in depth perception, unsteady gait, and other issues may contribute to difficulty with navigating sta

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Regression & Down Syndrome

Author: National Down Syndrome Society - Website

The Regression & Down Syndrome page  on the National Down Syndrome Society's website has information about Down syndrome regression disorder including symptoms, treatment, and

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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

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Decline in Skills and Regression in Adolescents and Adults with Down Syndrome Webinar Recording (8/31/2022)

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

The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Brian Chicoine, MD of the Adult Down Syndrome Center. Individuals with Down syndrome may experience decline in skills for many reasons

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Electroconvulsive Therapy, Catatonia, and Regression in People with Down Syndrome

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

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment that involves sedating an individual with anesthesia and then inducing a seizure with a short electrical stimulation of the brain (more information can b

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Therapeutic Use of Games

Author: Monica Prindiville, OTS and Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapy Student and Occupational Therapist

While games are widely considered to be a meaningful and enjoyable activity, their therapeutic benefits can be easily overlooked. Games provide opportunities to work on a wide variety of skills we use

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Fun Activities to Improve Fine Motor Skills

Author: Monica Prindiville, OTS and Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapy Student and Occupational Therapist

We use fine motor skills to complete any task that requires using the small muscles in our hands or wrists. This includes a wide variety of daily activities completed at home, work, and school: using

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Daily Tasks to Improve Fine Motor Skills

Author: Monica Prindiville, OTS and Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L - Occupational Therapy Student and Occupational Therapist

We use fine motor skills for many tasks throughout the day - any task involving use of the small muscles in our hands and wrists. A few examples of activities we do every day that require fine motor s

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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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Kidney Function in People with Down Syndrome

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

We frequently see that the lab values of kidney function of people with Down syndrome (DS) we evaluate at our Center are mildly abnormal. The kidney function is slightly decreased compared to what is

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Possible Causes of Regression in People with Down Syndrome during the COVID-19 Pandemic

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

We received a question about a man with Down syndrome in his late 30s. His family shared that he developed catatonia, was hearing people speaking in his head, and lost a significant amount of weight.

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Regression in Down Syndrome Support Group

Author: Eileen Quinn, MD - Moderator

The link below takes you to a closed Facebook page for families, caregivers, and professionals who support individuals with Down syndrome who have experienced or are experiencing regression. If you cl

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Does TSH tell the whole story?

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

Thyroid conditions such as hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid) and hyperthyroidism (overactive thyroid) are more common in people with Down syndrome. Current guidelines for adults with Down syndrome

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What is Occupational Therapy?

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

Occupational therapy is a health profession concerned with how people function and perform meaningful activities in their respective roles. "Occupation" is any activity in which one

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Refusal to Eat Solid Foods

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

We received a question about a person with Down syndrome who was refusing to eat solids. He was found to have dental disease. He needed several fillings and had a couple baby teeth removed. The dentis

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Diabetes in Adults with Down Syndrome

Author: Chuan-Li Fan, DO - Family Medicine Resident, Advocate Lutheran General Hospital

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease marked by the inability of the body to regulate sugars through insulin. Either the body does not produce enough insulin in the pancreas to help the body absorb suga

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Thyroid, Weight, and Metabolism

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

We were sent a question about thyroid, weight, and metabolism in people with Down syndrome. People with Down syndrome more commonly have hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid), one symptom of which is w

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Ask the Doctor: Thyroid Testing

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

Question: Recently, my daughter’s annual thyroid blood work came back as follows: TSH 9.74 (normal: 0.3-5.0), T3 27.8 (normal: 25.0-35.0), Free T4 1.7 (normal: 1.0-4.3), and T4 6.2 (normal:

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Hypothyroidism Presenting as Severe Psychological and Mental Dysfunction

Author: Chicoine

This is an article written by Brian Chicoine in Success Stories in Developmental Disabilities. Vol II. edited by Dale Antanitus and published in 1993.

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