According to Yvonne Ewurama Osei, a pediatric physiotherapist, advanced maternal or paternal age is one of the variables that puts a person at a higher chance of having infants with Down syndrome.
She stated on Joy Prime’s Prime Morning that studies has shown that women over the age of 35 have a greater probability of having infants with this condition.
“It doesn’t mean that every 35-year-old that gives birth is going to have a baby with Down syndrome, we’ve seen people in their 40s and 50s having neuron typical kids with no other issues,” she said on Tuesday, March 21, 2023.
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Down syndrome is a genetic condition in infant development in which an extra copy of the 21st chromosome (Chromosome 21) impairs an individual’s physical outlook, body structure, and overall body function.
Miss Osei also mentioned that the claims that men who are 40 years and above also stand a higher chance of producing babies with Down syndrome are factual.
“There’s recent research telling us that some of the kids with Down syndrome have fathers that are 40 years and above when they were born. Yes it’s true and like I said it’s your risk, it doesn’t necessarily mean that every 40-year-old man or above 40 will definitely have a child with Down syndrome,” she said.
“It just puts you at a higher risk. So it helps you advise yourself and explore your options, especially when it comes to these genetic counselling, screening and diagnostic test,” she noted.
Ms Osei went on to say that while research has shown that children with Down syndrome have mild to moderate intelligence quotients (IQ), they may develop in other aspects of their lives when they have access to early intervention, resources, and support.
SOURCE: myjoyonline
