People with Down syndrome now living into their sixties
29 November 2002
People with Down syndrome are now living into their 60s, twice as long as previously thought, West Australian researchers say.
Follow-up of 1332 people with Down syndrome born between 1902 and 2000 showed their average life expectancy was 58.6 years, with 25 per cent living to 63.
The oldest study participant was 73 years old, the researchers wrote (Clinical Genetics 2002; 62: 390-93).
'This is totally news to us — we had no idea. We thought we knew everything about Down syndrome — well this is something that I think will come as a bit of a shock to a lot of people, said co-author and director of the centre for human genetics at Edith Cowan University in Perth, Professor Alan Bittles.
'Often people still tend to imagine the life expectancy of someone with Down syndrome is in the 20s,' Professor Bittles said. But actually it's now about 60 years of age.
Better all-round care, treatment of infections and paediatric microsurgery for heart defects have contributed to the improvement in life expectancy, Professor Bittles said.
But in later life, people with Down syndrome may develop conditions such as obesity, hypothyroidism, epilepsy and Alzheimer's disease, and their ageing parents and families will be increasingly unable to cope.
'At a time when we're being urged to take on private healthcare and look after ourselves in terms of our own superannuation fund, where does that leave people with intellectual disability?'
'It leaves them in a sort of no-man's land. I think it's something that all developed countries have got to take on board,' Professor Bittles said.
Last Reviewed: 03 December 2002
- 1. Medical Observer Weekly 29/11/02
