In recent decades, improved health care, expanded education and community opportunities, and the support of families and advocacy groups have improved the quality of life for individuals with Down syndrome.  As a result, Schoen notes that "over the past 30 years, the life expectancy of those with Down syndrome has more than doubled -- underscoring the importance of development of treatments that will assist this population to achieve and maintain independent living. Along with other organizations supporting Down syndrome cognitive research, such as Down Syndrome Research and Treatment Foundation (DSRTF), we believe that individuals with Down syndrome should have access to effective drug therapies in a manner consistent with many medical conditions."

The RDS outreach program goal is to broaden awareness of Down syndrome cognitive research on a larger scale beyond the Down syndrome community -- communicating new research and scientific breakthroughs, and encouraging people to spread the news and support this research. researchds;  youtube/ResearchDownSyndrome.

Down syndrome is the result of an extra copy of the genetic material present on chromosome 21. It is the most frequently occurring chromosomal abnormality, with an incidence of approximately 1 of every 700 live births. Currently there are an estimated three million persons with Down syndrome worldwide, including approximately 400,000 in the United States. The extra chromosomal material impacts the body's and brain's normal development and manifests differently in each individual, including physical traits such as short stature and low muscle tone, and health conditions such as congenital heard defects and hearing deficits.

In addition to Johns Hopkins University, RDS supports cognitive research at other leading research institutions that are studying the basis of the intellectual impairments associated with Down syndrome, including Stanford University, The University of Arizona, University of California, San Diego, and University of Colorado.

SOURCE Research Down Syndrome