A Minnesota man named Bert Holbrook, who was recognized by Guinness World Records as the world’s oldest person with Down syndrome, died at age 83 in 2012.

There are three types of Down syndrome: Trisomy 21 (nondisjunction), Mosaicism, and Translocation.

Down syndrome is a random occurrence in nature. It has no cure or prevention measures. Down syndrome is not a disease, disorder, defect or medical condition and therefore does not require treatment, prevention or a cure.

This extra copy changes how the baby’s body and brain develop, which can cause both mental and physical challenges for the baby. Even though people with Down syndrome might act and look similar, each person has different abilities.

Quick Facts Today, people who have Down’s syndrome can look forward to a long life given the right medical care. The average life expectancy for a person who has Down’s syndrome is between 50 and 60 with a small number of people living into their seventies.

No, Down syndrome and autism are entirely different. And just like anyone else the chances of developing autism are the same. It is possible for a person to have Down syndrome and be Autistic. There are resources available for people who have this dual-diagnosis available at Down Syndrome-Autism Connection.

We know that there’s no one cause of autism. Research suggests that autism develops from a combination of genetic and nongenetic, or environmental, influences. These influences appear to increase the risk that a child will develop autism.

A case in point is autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impaired social interactions and communication, as well as by stereotypic movements. Maternal stress has been strongly associated with increased risk of developing ASD.