Physical Change and Aging, Seventh Edition by unknow

Author:unknow
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Social Science, Gerontology, Medical, Nursing, Psychology, Developmental, Adulthood & Aging
ISBN: 9780826150561
Google: mMgyEAAAQBAJ
Publisher: Springer Publishing Company
Published: 2021-09-26T04:25:47+00:00

Solid Tumor Cancers and Down Syndrome

One area in which those with DS do seem to have an advantage over the general population is their reduced risk of developing solid tumor cancers (e.g., breast cancer and colon cancer). This has been somewhat of an enigma for many years. Previously it was thought that the lower life expectancy of persons with DS meant that they simply did not live long enough to develop age-related cancers. This explanation has not been borne out with the increase in life expectancy; older adults with DS still are not developing solid tumor cancers in the numbers that would be expected. Compared with the general population, they seem to be protected from developing cancers that form solid masses, though one should remember that their rates of developing leukemia are significantly increased (Hasle et al., 2000). One of the explanations for this may rest again with the additional chromosome 21, in this case overexpressing the gene Ets2 (Sussan et al., 2008). The Ets2 gene is usually linked to increased tumor production, but it appears that having overexpression of this gene, as occurs with persons with DS, actually counters the risk of developing cancer.

Overall, persons with DS have a variety of medical issues throughout their lives, and their aging process is challenging. Nevertheless, great strides have been made in their life expectancy, and many of their comorbid conditions are manageable chronic conditions. As their medical and social care has improved, common assumptions regarding the abilities of people with DS increasingly are being challenged. It may surprise some people to learn that some people with DS have driver’s licenses and have completed marathons, and a teenager with DS has climbed Mount Everest! In the last century, people with DS were lucky to survive their first decade, but now they are outliving their parents and siblings, many of whom have been their primary caregivers. This underscores the importance of the need for healthcare professionals to be aware of and sensitive to aging in persons with DS in order to better support the endeavors of both formal and informal caregivers.

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