All articles tagged with #down syndrome
A 22-year-old Utah woman with Down syndrome, Aubry Allbridge, becomes a certified UpBeat Barre instructor and leads her debut class of 60, with support from her gym, aiming to turn certification into a full-time role and highlighting inclusion and empowerment through fitness.
22-year-old Aubry Alldredge of Kaysville became the first person with Down syndrome to earn UpBeat Barre certification, recently teaching a class to more than 60 people and promoting inclusion—she also wrote a children's book about her six dogs.
A Queensland coroner ruled that 6-year-old Connor Dean’s 2024 death was most likely caused by scurvy from severe vitamin C deficiency, with a diet low in fruits and vegetables and Down syndrome cited as contributing factors; his multivitamin did not contain vitamin C.
An Omaha woman with Down syndrome was denied a boarding pass at Eppley Airfield because staff determined she needed a safety assistant to fly; American Airlines says the policy was followed and the option was offered at no cost, while the family spent about $1,800 on a travel‑assistant workaround and disability advocates question how the rule is applied; USDOT notes that airlines may require a safety assistant only in limited safety circumstances and cannot charge the accompanying traveler.
Country star Rory Feek revealed that two weeks after his daughter Indiana’s open-heart surgery, the 12-year-old was rushed to a Texas hospital and then airlifted to Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin after a sudden health scare; doctors found a dangerous buildup of fluid around her heart requiring emergency surgery, and a subsequent procedure to remove fluid brought relief, with the family reporting she’s doing well and on track for a full recovery. Indiana has Down syndrome and had earlier health concerns related to her congenital heart defect.
Country singer Rory Feek revealed his daughter Indiana, born with Down syndrome and a ventricular septal defect, was airlifted to Dell Children’s Medical Center in Austin after a sudden health scare that followed open-heart surgery; doctors found a dangerous buildup of fluid around her heart, performing an emergency operation, with a second surgery nearly two weeks later to remove more fluid, after which Indy showed signs of a full recovery.
Jesse Ridgway and his wife Ashley announced on Instagram that they terminated their pregnancy after learning the fetus had Down syndrome (Trisomy 21). Ridgway described the decision as extremely traumatic and not taken lightly, and he outlined health risks associated with the condition. The couple, who are based in New Jersey, said they are grateful to have had a choice and plan to try for another pregnancy in the future.
A Swedesboro family in the Philly area pursued sleeve gastrectomy for their 15-year-old son with Down syndrome, leading to about 70 pounds lost and renewed energy for activities, illustrating that metabolic and bariatric surgery can be a safe, effective option for adolescents with obesity when backed by thorough medical and psychological evaluation. Yet fewer than 1% of eligible youths receive this intervention, and new guidelines since 2023 advocate considering weight-loss medications and surgical options earlier alongside lifestyle changes.
A study from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and Harvard uses a modified CRISPR/Cas9 to insert the chromosome-silencing XIST RNA into trisomy 21 cells, silencing the extra chromosome in a subset of cell lines and offering a potential path toward chromosomal therapy for Down syndrome, but much work remains to assess safety, delivery, and whether effects translate to animals and humans.
Northwestern University researchers report that the anti-seizure drug levetiracetam blocked the production of amyloid-beta 42 in animal models, cultured human neurons, and post-mortem Down syndrome brain tissue, suggesting a possible Alzheimer’s prevention mechanism by stopping toxic protein formation. The findings are preclinical and observational with no human trials yet, and experts caution that any preventive use would require very early treatment and consideration of side effects, while researchers pursue longer-lasting versions and plans for human testing.
Research shows that delivering the protein pleiotrophin (Ptn) to astrocytes in the brain can reverse neural connection and activity changes in mouse models of Down syndrome, suggesting potential for future therapies targeting brain wiring in neurodevelopmental disorders.
The study identifies HMGN1 as a dosage-sensitive gene on chromosome 21 that influences heart defects in Down syndrome, demonstrating that its increased expression reprograms heart cell identity and that reducing its dosage in mouse models rescues cardiac abnormalities.
Research by Neil Hunter's team uncovers how proteins safeguard chromosome crossovers during egg and sperm development, with implications for understanding fertility issues, miscarriages, and genetic conditions like Down syndrome, by studying the conserved process in yeast that mirrors human biology.
Scientists may have discovered a method to eliminate the chromosome linked to Down syndrome, raising hopes for potential prevention but also sparking ethical debates about eugenics and genetic modification.
Chris Burke, the first actor with Down Syndrome to star in a TV series, has defended comedian Shane Gillis over his controversial "Saturday Night Live" monologue, stating that people with Down Syndrome should not be excluded from being joked about by comedians. Burke believes that excluding people with Down Syndrome from being the subjects of jokes would be more offensive, and he sees some positives in Shane's monologue sparking a conversation about the condition.