Down syndrome (Mongolism)

 Down syndrome (Mongolism)

     

         Down syndrome, trisomy 21 or the older term mongolism is a condition in which a person is born with certain distinctive features :  flat face, short neck, and a degree of mental delay (mental retardation). Although Down syndrome cannot be treated, most patients can lead a normal life. With the proper care and help they need, children with Down syndrome can have a spectacular growth and development and can become healthy and happy adults.

         Down syndrome (DS) children have different degrees of developmental disabilities, developmental delay, and developmental brain abnormalities associated with CNS maturation delay, cortical dysgenesis and retardation of growth. Chromosomes determines everything about us : our hair colour, eye colour, facial features, muscle strength, etc. We have 46
chromosomes, people with DS have 47. Having an extra chromosomes makes it more difficult to move and talk. DS is not contagious, we cannot catch it. The brain shape in DS newborn infants was the same as in non-DS infants, but after 3–5 months of age in DS infants the antero-posterior diameter was found to be shorter than in non-DS infants.
 
        People with DS are loyal friends who have talents! The 19-year-old from Guatemala, Isabella Springmühl, a fashion designer with Down Syndrome, recently got the opportunity to show off her work at London Fashion Week last year. She was the first person with Down Syndrome to have their clothing line for people with Down syndrome featured at London Fashion Week. “One of my dreams was to be able to design beautiful and fashionable clothing for youngsters and adults with Down syndrome,” she said. Though she’s looking to design clothing for anyone and everyone, she also wants to focus on an often-neglected group of people: others who have Down Syndrome. “It’s hard for us to find clothing,” she said. “We have short necks, short torsos.” So she created Down to Xjabelle, a sister line to her grandmother’s Xjabelle brand created for people with Down Syndrome.