People with Down syndrome have 46 normal chromosomes and 1 extra 21st chromosome.
The extra chromosome may come from the sperm or the egg.
The exact cause of Down syndrome is unknown.
The incidence of Down syndrome is about one in every 900 live births.
80% of children with Down syndrome are born to women under 35 years of age.
People do no suffer from Down syndrome. It is not an illness or an affliction.
The variation in abilities, behaviour and physical development in those with Down syndrome is as great as for those without.
People with Down syndrome have a life expectancy that approaches that of the typical population.
Down syndrome occurs in all cultural groups and economic classes. It occurs evenly in boys and girls.
People with Down syndrome resemble their family members more than they do other people with Down syndrome.
The majority of people with Down syndrome only have a mild to moderate intellectual disability.
People with Down syndrome are often characterized as being “happy”, “cute” and/or “stubborn”. In fact each individual with Down syndrome has a unique personality.