Trisomy 21

[Versa]

Has anyone else noticed that Down's Syndrome seems to be more prevalent in the Caucasian race more so then any other race? I know the fact that the majority of people in North America and Europe are Caucasian and naturally you tend to see more persons of the Caucasian race affected by the disorder. Even though I am aware that it exists, I can honestly say that I have never come across a person of another race who has the condition. Any thoughts/ideas?

[Bioture]

My friend's brother has it. He is asian.

Also, just volunteer for KEEN in an urban area. Not that you should do it just to pry on minority with down syndrome.

[Versa]

My curiosity is solely based on the my inability to find information on it. Like I said I know it exists in minorities but my question is linked to the fact that it seems like it is not as prevalent in races other then the Caucasian race. I'm a Biomed Major and to be honest I just wanted to see if someone could add something interesting to my knowledge of this issue. Sorry if I offended you. It was not my intention.

[Louis XV]

Trisomy 21 risk increases with the mother's age, and caucasian women in N America tend to be wealthier and more educated than women of other ethnicities, which also correlates with having children later.

[Nycle]

Why are you asking a question like that on a forum like this? I'm sure you visit some medical forums once in a while?

Apparently, all races are equally affected under the same circumstances.

RATES DIFFER BY AGE AND RACE/ETHNICITY

As a woman gets older, her risk of having a pregnancy with Down syndrome increases. However, over half of Down syndrome infants are born to mothers under 35—although younger mothers have lower risk, they have more babies, therefore accounting for more affected births.

Racial/ethnic differences in Down syndrome rates are primarily due to the distribution of births by age. For example, Asians have a higher proportion of births to older mothers, increasing the rate of Down syndrome; Hispanics and Blacks have more births to younger mothers.

Reference: Bishop J, Huether C, Torfs CP, Lorey F, Deddens J. Epidemiologic study of Down syndrome in a racially diverse California population, 1989-1991. American Journal of Epidemiology 1997; 145(2):134-147

Edit: Louis got it. I also think that the fact that you don't see minorities with Down syndrome as often is because their relatives/caretakers tend to "hide" them more than caucasian people. That may sound blunt and almost racist, but in general I really do think that white people are more accepting of it and therefore less "embarassed" to walk with them in public.

[kthx]

And lets be honest, in compton or some shit do you really think a kid with down syndrome is going to stand out in a crowd when everyone is outside drinking 40's blowing blunts and listening to lil wayne?

Probably just as many kids with down syndrome in the black community.

[Xog]

Holy Crap it's Louis XV

[paradise!]

nycle, remember this is a discussion forum. You're proving that this is worth discussion by showing that it intended to be an equal opportunity disorder, but so far from what most of us have seen, it isn't.

he's opened up lines to ask why this is so.


Louis hit it right on the head. Women are having children in their 40s, more chances for complications.

Another reason is the increase in the number of prescriptions the mother is taking, that in addition of a of a polluted womb. A lot of popular prescriptions all say they shouldn't be taken by a pregnant mother, the mother could easily be taking that prescription and not know she is pregnant.