Characterized by an array of physical and intellectual symptoms, Down syndrome affects one in 700 babies today, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). And though researchers have pinpointed the chromosomal abnormalities that cause Down syndrome, they still aren't exactly sure why those abnormalities happen. Show
"For the most part, we simply don't understand (Down syndrome causes) as well as we would like," says Kenneth Rosenbaum, M.D., founder of the division of genetics and metabolism and co-director of the Down Syndrome Clinic at Children's National Medical Center in Washington, D.C. This can make it difficult to understand whether you're at risk for having a baby with Down syndrome. Keep reading to learn more about the causes of Down syndrome and what factors may increase your chances. Causes of Down SyndromeTo better understand your baby's chances of Down syndrome, it can help to know what causes the condition in the first place. Most people are born with 46 chromosomes (clusters of genes) in the nucleus of every cell. The chromosomes form in pairs with 23 from the mother and 23 from the father. Down syndrome happens when a baby is conceived with a full or partial extra copy of one of these chromosomes—specifically chromosome 21. Experts have pinpointed three different types of Down syndrome: trisomy 21, mosaic Down syndrome, and translocation Down syndrome. Trisomy 21: Most people have two copies of chromosome 21 in each cell, but those with trisomy 21 have three copies. About 95% of Down syndrome cases are trisomy 21. Mosaic Down Syndrome: While some cells have two copies of chromosome 21 like usual, others have an additional third copy. Mosaic Down syndrome occurs in 1-2% of cases, and affected people may have fewer physical and intellectual characteristics of the condition. Translocation Down syndrome: There are two full copies of chromosome 21 in the cell, as well as a partial extra chromosome 21 stuck to an entirely different chromosome. This is the result of a process called translocation, and it occurs in 3-4% of Down syndrome cases. What Factors Affect Your Chances of Down Syndrome?Although Down syndrome is a genetic condition, you most likely will not have any family history of it. "In most cases, the extra chromosome seems to happen by chance," says Emily Jean Davidson, M.D., clinical director of the Down Syndrome Program at Boston Children's Hospital. That said, some factors might increase your chances of having a baby with Down syndrome. Here are 4 factors that may be associated with an increased risk of having a baby with Down syndrome. 1. Maternal ageDown syndrome can occur at any maternal age, but the possibility increases as a person of reproductive age gets older. A 25-year-old 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 the age of 40. The chances of Down syndrome further increase to one in 30 by age 45, according to the National Down Syndrome Society. If you're over 35 and thinking about getting pregnant, you and your partner may want to undergo genetic counseling to gain more knowledge about your risk. 2. Maternal folate metabolizationThere have been some studies that have found that some mothers with babies with Down syndrome have an alteration in how they metabolize folate, but the link has not been completely proven. "There have been theories about whether it's due to how well the mother metabolizes folate, but there are just as many studies saying no as studies saying yes," Dr. Rosenbaum. 3. GeneticsTwo types of Down syndrome—Trisomy 21 and mosaic Down syndrome—don't have any heredity component. However, according to the National Down Syndrome Society, translocation Down syndrome is passed from parent to child in one-third of cases. This accounts for 1% of all individuals diagnosed with Down syndrome. If your baby has a translocation, physicians will suggest checking both parents' chromosomes to see if the translocation arose in the baby (most commonly the case) or if either parent is an unaffected carrier. If so, genetic testing can pinpoint the cause and determine your individual chance of recurrence. Generally, translocation Down syndrome has a 3% chance of occurring again if the father carries the translocated chromosome, and a 10-15% of recurrence if the mother does, according to the National Down Syndrome Society. 4. HistoryIf you have one child with Down syndrome, (trisomy 21 or translocation), your chance of having a second child with the condition is about 1%. No matter your risk, remember that Down syndrome occurs before conception. "Nothing you do during your pregnancy will increase your risk or reverse what has already happened," Dr. Rosenbaum says. "All you can do while pregnant is take the best possible care of yourself and your baby by eating well, taking prenatal vitamins, and following other common sense advice." What maternal age is high risk for Down syndrome?A known risk factor for Down syndrome is increasing maternal age. As seen in Figure 4, women who are 35 to 39 years old are approximately 4.5 times more likely to have a child with Down syndrome compared with women in the 25 to 29 age group. This risk increases to 15.7 for mothers age 40 years or older.
Does Down syndrome correlate with maternal age?Older mothers are more likely to have a baby affected by Down syndrome than younger mothers.
What is the risk of Down syndrome at age 37?
Does father's age affect Down syndrome?Dr. Fisch and his colleagues found that the rate of Down syndrome steadily increased with advancing paternal age for the maternal age group of 35 to 39 years. The greatest increase, however, was seen in the maternal age group of 40 years and older with increasing paternal age.
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Risk of down syndrome by maternal age
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