What is the Average Life Expectancy of Someone With Down Syndrome?

People with Down syndrome are living longer and healthier lives than ever before. Advances in medical science have significantly extended the average life expectancy of someone with Down syndrome by nearly 50 years since the 1940s. While there is still much to learn about Down syndrome in elderly populations, what we do know is that aging with Down syndrome comes with unique challenges.

In this post, we’ll explore down syndrome and aging and answer common questions like “What is the life expectancy of someone with down syndrome?”

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What Is Down Syndrome?

Down syndrome is a genetic condition that occurs when a person is born with an extra copy of chromosome 21. Down syndrome affects how the brain and body develop, which can cause both physical and mental developmental challenges.

Down syndrome is the most common chromosomal condition diagnosed in the United States, with roughly 5,700 babies born in the US with Down syndrome each year.

Aging With Down Syndrome

Adults with Down syndrome experience what is commonly referred to as “accelerated aging.” This means they often deal with health conditions and physical challenges that are usually associated with seniors at an earlier age than the average person.

The effects of accelerated aging and Down syndrome can be clearly observed both medically and functionally, with many family members or caregivers noticing that people with Down syndrome begin to “slow down” when they reach their late 40s or 50s.

Down Syndrome in Old Age

Fully understanding the relationship between Down syndrome and aging is difficult, because medical researchers are only just beginning to piece together what “normal aging” looks like for adults with Down syndrome. However, there are a number of common medical conditions associated with Down syndrome and aging.

Watch out for the following changes in elderly people with down syndrome:

• Sensory Loss – Adults with Down syndrome are at risk of early cataracts, keratoconus, and hearing loss. Undiagnosed sensory issues can often be misinterpreted as stubbornness, confusion, or disorientation in seniors with Down syndrome.
• Hypothyroidism – Thyroid issues are common in adults with Down syndrome and often cause fatigue, mental fog, weight fluctuations, and irritability.
• Obstructive Sleep Apnea – Adults with Down syndrome are more susceptible to sleep apnea, which is known to cause snoring, gasping noises, fatigue, difficulty getting out of bed, excessive napping, and interrupted sleep.
• Osteoarthritis – People with down syndrome are often hyperflexible. This can cause increased stress on their joints leading to a higher risk of osteoarthritis. Pain caused by arthritis can often lead to behavioral changes, such as irritability or an unwillingness to participate in regular activities.
• Cervical Spine Concerns – Down syndrome comes with an increased risk of instability in the part of the spine located in the neck, called the cervical spine. When chronic changes in the cervical spine occur, elderly people with Down syndrome may experience weakness in the arms and hands, issues walking normally, or incontinence.
• Osteoporosis – Individuals with Down syndrome also have a higher risk for osteoporosis, a disease which causes thinning of bone mass — especially in those with a history of immobility, low body mass, or early menopause.
• Alzheimer’s Disease – Signs of Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly with down syndrome will vary. Experts suggest establishing a “baseline” expectation of what the individual is capable of doing at their best. Once you’ve established a baseline of normal behavior, you can identify any significant changes and get help. 75% of those with Down syndrome over the age of 60 will also have Alzheimer’s so it’s important to keep an eye out for irregular patterns of behavior and schedule regular memory assessments.

What is the Average Life Expectancy of Someone with Down Syndrome?

The average life expectancy of someone with down syndrome is 60 years old — though many adults with Down syndrome live into their 70s and 80s — a massive increase from an estimated life expectancy of just 12 years in the 1940s.

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