Down syndrome is a set of cognitive and physical symptoms that result from having an extra chromosome 21 or an extra piece of that chromosome. It is the most common chromosomal cause of mild to moderate intellectual disability. People with Down syndrome also have some distinct physical features, such as a flat-looking face, and are at risk for a number of other health problems.

Understanding Down syndrome and other intellectual and developmental disorders is part of the reason the NICHD was founded. Today, the institute continues to lead research into the causes, progression, treatment, and treatment of Down syndrome, as well as conditions and diseases associated with the syndrome.

New NIH initiative NICHD welcomed part to make INCLUDE (IN vestigatie C o-occurring disorders on the L ifespan to you nderstand D own syndrome E) , an NIH-wide initiative launched in June 2018 to support a Congressional Guideline in fiscal year 2018 Omnibus credits. The project aims to understand the critical health and quality of life needs of people with Down syndrome, with the aim of making scientific discoveries to improve the health, wellbeing and neurological development of people with Down syndrome, as well as their risk and resilience common diseases they share with individuals who do not have Down's syndrome. INCLUDE will investigate conditions affecting individuals with Down syndrome and the general population, such as Alzheimer's disease / dementia, autism, cataracts, celiac disease, congenital heart defects and diabetes.

Common name

• Down syndrome

Medical or scientific names

• Down syndrome
• Trisomy 21
• 47, XX, + 21
• 47, XY, +21