People with Down's Living Longer

Current data suggests that people with Down syndrome are living longer than ever before and that life expectancy has nearly doubled over the past 20 years, from 25 years to 49 years.

The study, published in the latest issue of the journal The Lancet, also finds that people with Down syndrome are less likely to die from most cancers than people without the condition. It confirmed that congenital heart defects were the most common cause of death among these individuals, but researchers were surprised to learn people with Down syndrome were about one-tenth as likely as others to die of all cancers expect leukemia and testicular cancer. They speculate the reduced risk may be related to the condition itself or lower exposure to environmental risks associated with cancer.

The researchers suggest the higher life expectancy seen today for people with Down syndrome may be related to better medical care for these individuals and the greater likelihood they will be cared for at home rather than in an institution.