Adults with Down syndrome can experience various behavioral issues, often linked to mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), alongside common traits like reliance on routines, but sometimes display aggression or withdrawal, often signaling underlying medical problems like thyroid issues or early-onset Alzheimer's disease. Common challenges include difficulty with change, repetitive behaviors, self-talk, and communication barriers, which can manifest as tantrums or stubbornness when they can't express discomfort.
Health Problems
High incidence of infection: Greater frequency of colds, bronchitis, sinus infections, and pneumonia. Increased risks: More likely to have thyroid problems or leukemia. Intestinal malformations: Intestinal blockages or other problems that require surgery in about 12 percent of Down Syndrome patients.
The mental age is rarely over 8 years old, although a few cases of normal Intelligence Quotient (IQ) in children with DS have Page 2 Cognitive development and adaptive functions in children with Down syndrome at different developmental stages 85 been reported 4.
The most common mental health concerns in individuals with Down syndrome include anxiety, obsessive-compulsive behaviors, oppositional behaviors, depression, and tic disorder.
Participants with Down syndrome were more likely to demonstrate clinically significant behavior problems in several areas, including hyperactivity, atypicality, and withdrawal on the BASC-2, and social problems, thought problems, and attention problems on the CBCL.
Progressive changes that might suggest early-stage AD include loss of language, behaviour changes (including social withdrawal), loss of daily living skills, gait disorder, and, in some, psychosis (including hallucinations and delusions), seizures, and dysphagia.
Behavioral problems such as stubbornness, impulsivity, and temper tantrums may be more common in children with Down syndrome. Many children talk out loud to themselves as a way of understanding and processing information. On the other hand, many children with Down syndrome have strong social skills.
People with Down syndrome will typically have some level of learning disability and characteristic physical features. There are some health problems associated with Down syndrome, such as heart problems and difficulties with sight and hearing, but these will not affect everyone with the condition.
Avoid treating adults with Down syndrome like children. We don't need to call them “cute” or act “surprised” when they talk about an adult topic. They have adult interests, needs, and desires. Infantilizing them undermines their autonomy and potential.
By age 40, almost all people with Down syndrome have changes in their brains associated with Alzheimer's disease. You may not have symptoms of Alzheimer's at this age, but they can develop in the future.
“We certainly see some kids who are less affected than others, but we shy away from terms like 'low-functioning' and 'high-functioning,'” Pipan explains. Some children with Down syndrome have a hard time learning to walk, and others have no problem running and jumping and riding a bike.
Risks for chromosome abnormalities by maternal age
The risk of chromosomal abnormality increases with maternal age. The chance of having a child affected by Down syndrome increases from about 1 in 1,250 for a woman who conceives at age 25, to about 1 in 100 for a woman who conceives at age 40.
Though not all people with Down syndrome have the same features, some of the more common features include:
Contrary to what some may believe, adults with Down syndrome are often capable of maintaining employment and living independently. This level of self-sufficiency often requires years of educational support and occupational therapy.
While every person with Down syndrome is different, some characteristics are common.
According to psychology, there are specific personality types that are notoriously difficult to live with. These can include the passive-aggressive communicator, the relentless critic, or the energy-draining pessimist. However, recognizing these traits is the first step toward managing the stress they cause.
To tell if someone has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), look for patterns of intense mood swings, unstable relationships, a distorted self-image, chronic emptiness, impulsivity, intense anger, fear of abandonment, self-harm, and stress-related paranoia or dissociation; a diagnosis requires a mental health professional to assess at least five of these core symptoms, which often overlap with other conditions, making professional evaluation crucial.
If you think depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder are the mental illnesses most commonly linked to an early death, you're wrong. Eating disorders—including anorexia nervosa, bulimia, and binge eating— are the most lethal mental health conditions, according to research in Current Psychiatry Reports.
They may be empathetic and compassionate. Easily influenced by others: Individuals with Down syndrome may be more easily influenced by others than typical individuals. They may need support and guidance to make decisions and navigate social situations.
ALSO, YES. Provided they're of legal age, there's no inherent reason an individual with Down syndrome can't consume alcohol. If people with Down syndrome don't drink alcohol, it's likely due to other factors rather than the condition itself. Yet, the myth persists.
Most individuals with Down syndrome have mild (IQ: 50–69) or moderate (IQ: 35–50) intellectual disability with some cases having severe (IQ: 20–35) difficulties. Those with mosaic Down syndrome typically have IQ scores 10–30 points higher than that.
We know that people with Down syndrome have difficulties with brain function, including problems with learning, memory and speech throughout life, as well as the onset in later life of increased cognitive problems associated with the brain changes of Alzheimer's disease.
Pablo Pineda
He made history as the first person with Down syndrome to earn a major degree from a regular university in Spain, and he continued to pursue his academic interests by obtaining a diploma in teaching and a BA in Educational Psychology while working in Malaga.
Adults with Down syndrome have a range of needs, abilities, and desires, just like any other group of people. Some will learn to drive, have relationships, and live almost entirely on their own.