He has defied the odds to reach the ripe old age of 78 after medics feared he would never see his teenage years. Niece Nikki Wright, 44, from East Leake, who visits him every week, said: Its brilliant he is now officially the oldest person in the country with Downs syndrome.

What is the average lifespan of a Down syndrome person?

What is the life expectancy for people with Down syndrome? The life expectancy of people with Down syndrome increased dramatically between 1960 and 2007. In 1960, on average, persons with Down syndrome lived to be about 10 years old. In 2007, on average, persons with Down syndrome lived to be about 47 years old.

Can a 25 year old have a baby with Down syndrome?

Maternal Age: Down syndrome can occur at any maternal age, but the possibility increases as a woman gets older. A 25-year-old woman has a one in 1,200 chance of having a baby with Down syndrome. By 35 years of age, the risk increases to one in 350—and it becomes one in 100 by age 40.

Is Down syndrome brain damage?

We know that people with Down syndrome have difficulties with brain function, including problems with learning, memory and speech throughout life, as well as the onset in later life of increased cognitive problems associated with the brain changes of Alzheimers disease.

What is the mental age of Down syndrome?

The average IQ of a young adult with Down syndrome is 50, equivalent to the mental ability of an eight- or nine-year-old child, but this can vary widely. The parents of the affected individual are usually genetically normal.

Are Down syndrome brains different?

The brain of a child with Down syndrome develops differently from a normal one, attaining a form reduced in size and altered in configuration.

Can a puppy have Down syndrome?

Simply put, the answer is no. The condition of Down syndrome has not been described in dogs. Three explanations are possible: These types of chromosomal abnormalities typically lead to early death in dogs.