00:00 Down syndrome has changed significantly in terms of how it is viewed and accepted, and individuals with Down syndrome have benefited from the disability rights movement.

05:05 Down syndrome is often misunderstood as cognitive impairment, when in reality it is often caused by motor impairment, such as speech delays due to underdeveloped mouth muscles, and there are also various medical issues that can arise, including congenital heart defects, hearing and vision problems, thyroid problems, tummy issues, sleep apnea or asthma, childhood leukemia, and even early-onset Alzheimer's disease.

10:39 Down syndrome is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 21, but there are also two other ways that it can occur: translocation down, where the extra copy of chromosome 21 is attached to a different chromosome, and mosaic down, where some cells have three copies of chromosome 21 and others have two.

16:02 In the past, people with Down syndrome had a short lifespan and were often cast out of society and institutionalized, but in the late 60s and early 70s, attitudes began to change.

21:31 Attitudes towards people with Down syndrome began to change in the late 60s and early 70s, leading to their release from institutions and an increase in life expectancy.

27:06 The disability rights movement in the 60s and 70s led to a change in perception towards people with Down syndrome, resulting in increased life expectancy, higher IQs, and the ability to live more normal lives.

32:17 Children with Down syndrome may experience delays in social functioning, spoken language, and math skills, but they often have better visual processing and learning skills, and education has become more tailored to their individual needs.

37:54 Tests for Down syndrome can now be done as early as nine to 13 weeks gestation, including a blood test, ultrasound, and more invasive tests like amniocentesis or chorionic villus sampling, but there is concern that these tests are leading to a decrease in the number of people with Down syndrome being born.

43:12 The increase in prenatal screenings for Down syndrome and the availability of information and support for families has led to a decrease in the abortion rate for Down syndrome positive pregnancies, but the overall number of people with Down syndrome being born is still increasing due to factors such as increased awareness and acceptance, higher birth rates among Hispanic women, more standard screenings, and the trend of giving birth later in life.

48:26 People with Down syndrome have a higher likelihood of developing Alzheimer's at a younger age due to the overproduction of proteins that create plaques on the brain, and despite some frustrations with their condition, the majority of individuals with Down syndrome report being happy with their lives and have a positive self-perception.

53:26 A study found that giving pulses of gonadotropin releasing hormone to adult men with Down syndrome improved their cognitive function by 20 to 30% over six months, which could have implications for both Down syndrome and Alzheimer's.

58:42 This section does not contain relevant information about Down Syndrome.