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

Gastrointestinal Health of People with Down Syndrome Webinar Recording (May 2025)

May 2025 | Brian Chicoine, MD - Medical Director, Adult Down Syndrome Center

The video below is a recording of a webinar presented by Brian Chicoine, MD, Medical Director of the Adult Down Syndrome Center. 

Description:

People with Down syndrome have several differences in their gastrointestinal (GI) organs and tissues compared to people without Down syndrome. These differences increase their risk of developing GI conditions such as swallowing issues, heartburn, celiac disease, and constipation. While some conditions may require seeing a GI specialist (a gastroenterologist), other conditions can be managed by a primary care physician.

In this 2-part webinar series, Brian Chicoine, MD, discusses GI health of people with Down syndrome from a primary care perspective. In Part 1, he provides an overview of differences in the GI health of people with Down syndrome compared to people without Down syndrome; describes ways to optimize GI health; identifies common symptoms of GI conditions; and discusses testing that may be done as part of an evaluation for GI conditions. In Part 2, he provides an overview of common GI conditions of adolescents and adults with Down syndrome and describes how the conditions are diagnosed and treated. 

Slides from Part 1

 

Slides from Part 2

 

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Please note: The information on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to serve as a substitute for a medical, psychiatric, mental health, or behavioral evaluation, diagnosis, or treatment plan by a qualified professional. We recommend you review the educational material with your health providers regarding the specifics of your health care needs.

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