What are the risk factors for down syndrome?

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What factors increase the chances of having a baby with down syndrome?
There are numerous risk factors for a pregnancy leading to a child with down syndrome including folate metabolism, lifestyle and environmental factors and genetic factors. The risk is greater with the increasing age of the mother. The risk of cardiac and gastrointestinal defects in down syndrome babies depends on exposure to cigarette smoke and coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Last Updated on March 28, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Chromosomal abnormalities are remarkably common in human reproduction. Down syndrome is one such chromosomal abnormality. In this article, we will discuss if there are any risk factors for down syndrome and which ones have strong associations with the condition. 

Are there any risk factors for down syndrome?

Yes, there are several risk factors for down syndrome. It is a genetic condition caused by the presence of an extra copy of chromosome 21. The risk factors for down syndrome include folate metabolism, dietary, lifestyle, environmental, occupational, genetic and epigenetic factors. Environmental factors that influence the risk of trisomy 21 include tobacco use, folic acid supplementation, oral contraceptive use, etc. 

Which risk factors are strongly associated with down syndrome?

The only certain risk factor for a down syndrome that researchers described is the mother’s age. Women who are 35 years or older are more likely to have a pregnancy affected by down syndrome. Researchers found that some environmental factors can be the cause of cardiac and gastrointestinal defects in down syndrome babies. These factors include mothers’ cigarette smoking and coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Besides these, same ancestry, region (rural/urban) of residence of parents, exposure of parents to chemicals, etc. are possible risk factors for the chromosomal abnormalities.

However, in order to fully understand the factors that can contribute to down syndrome among cases of maternal origin, we need further stratification into the errors that occur or originate during the first meiotic division (type of cell division that reduces the number of chromosomes in the parent cell by half and produces four gamete cells) in the maternal grandmother’s body and errors that occur later in life during the second maternal meiotic division.

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What factors increase the chances of having a baby with down syndrome?
There are numerous risk factors for a pregnancy leading to a child with down syndrome including folate metabolism, lifestyle and environmental factors and genetic factors. The risk is greater with the increasing age of the mother. The risk of cardiac and gastrointestinal defects in down syndrome babies depends on exposure to cigarette smoke and coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Last Updated on March 28, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

What factors increase the chances of having a baby with down syndrome?
There are numerous risk factors for a pregnancy leading to a child with down syndrome including folate metabolism, lifestyle and environmental factors and genetic factors. The risk is greater with the increasing age of the mother. The risk of cardiac and gastrointestinal defects in down syndrome babies depends on exposure to cigarette smoke and coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Last Updated on March 28, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

What factors increase the chances of having a baby with down syndrome?
There are numerous risk factors for a pregnancy leading to a child with down syndrome including folate metabolism, lifestyle and environmental factors and genetic factors. The risk is greater with the increasing age of the mother. The risk of cardiac and gastrointestinal defects in down syndrome babies depends on exposure to cigarette smoke and coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Last Updated on March 28, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

What factors increase the chances of having a baby with down syndrome?
There are numerous risk factors for a pregnancy leading to a child with down syndrome including folate metabolism, lifestyle and environmental factors and genetic factors. The risk is greater with the increasing age of the mother. The risk of cardiac and gastrointestinal defects in down syndrome babies depends on exposure to cigarette smoke and coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Last Updated on March 28, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

What factors increase the chances of having a baby with down syndrome?
There are numerous risk factors for a pregnancy leading to a child with down syndrome including folate metabolism, lifestyle and environmental factors and genetic factors. The risk is greater with the increasing age of the mother. The risk of cardiac and gastrointestinal defects in down syndrome babies depends on exposure to cigarette smoke and coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Last Updated on March 28, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

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What factors increase the chances of having a baby with down syndrome?
There are numerous risk factors for a pregnancy leading to a child with down syndrome including folate metabolism, lifestyle and environmental factors and genetic factors. The risk is greater with the increasing age of the mother. The risk of cardiac and gastrointestinal defects in down syndrome babies depends on exposure to cigarette smoke and coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Last Updated on March 28, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

What factors increase the chances of having a baby with down syndrome?
There are numerous risk factors for a pregnancy leading to a child with down syndrome including folate metabolism, lifestyle and environmental factors and genetic factors. The risk is greater with the increasing age of the mother. The risk of cardiac and gastrointestinal defects in down syndrome babies depends on exposure to cigarette smoke and coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Last Updated on March 28, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

What factors increase the chances of having a baby with down syndrome?
There are numerous risk factors for a pregnancy leading to a child with down syndrome including folate metabolism, lifestyle and environmental factors and genetic factors. The risk is greater with the increasing age of the mother. The risk of cardiac and gastrointestinal defects in down syndrome babies depends on exposure to cigarette smoke and coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Last Updated on March 28, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

What factors increase the chances of having a baby with down syndrome?
There are numerous risk factors for a pregnancy leading to a child with down syndrome including folate metabolism, lifestyle and environmental factors and genetic factors. The risk is greater with the increasing age of the mother. The risk of cardiac and gastrointestinal defects in down syndrome babies depends on exposure to cigarette smoke and coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Last Updated on March 28, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

What factors increase the chances of having a baby with down syndrome?
There are numerous risk factors for a pregnancy leading to a child with down syndrome including folate metabolism, lifestyle and environmental factors and genetic factors. The risk is greater with the increasing age of the mother. The risk of cardiac and gastrointestinal defects in down syndrome babies depends on exposure to cigarette smoke and coffee consumption during pregnancy.

Last Updated on March 28, 2023 by Shabnam Sengupta

Disclaimer: Medical Science is an ever evolving field. We strive to keep this page updated. In case you notice any discrepancy in the content, please inform us at [email protected]. You can futher read our Correction Policy here. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay seeking medical treatment because of something you have read on or accessed through this website or it's social media channels. Read our Full Disclaimer Here for further information.

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Dr. Shikha Shiromani
Dr. Shikha Shiromani
A dental surgeon by education and medical writer by profession, Shikha is passionate to bring her knowledge and experience in busting the myths around medicine and health. At THIP, she is involved in researching, fact-checking and answering all kinds of questions related to health.
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