Down syndrome was first recognized as a disease by John Langdon Down in 1866. Down is the namesake of the disease and is commonly called the "father" of Down syndrome. Down's original name for the syndrome was "Mongolian Idiocy," because of the slanted eyes and flat face of the carriers (National Down Syndrome Society). He thought that it was a throw-back to Mongolian ancestors, but the term is now out-of-date and thought to be offensive. For centuries before, however, Down syndrome characteristics had been found in art, literature, and science (National Down Syndrome Society). Down was working in a mental institution when he observed that several of his patients had similar features, and this urged him to study them (Ward). He finally concluded that they had a common disease, and classified it as Mongolian Idiocy (Ward). In 1959

, Jerome Lejeune identified the disease as a chromosomal condition (National Down Syndrome Society). He found that instead of 46 chromosomes, there was an extra partial or complete 21st chromosome. In 1965, the name of the disease was changed from Mongolian Idiocy to Down syndrome, so it would be less offensive (National Down Syndrome Congress). In more recent years, much research has been conducted about Down syndrome. Many diseases have been linked to the syndrome. In 1986, researchers studying Down syndrome tissue found evidence of the amyloid plaque from Alzheimer's (Bishop and Waldholz). This let to the discovery that Alzheimer's is contained in the 21st chromosome, and that people with Down syndrome are more susceptible to developing Alzheimer's disease. Also, heart disease and leukemia are common in Down syndrome patients.

There are also many side effects that aren't visible. Speech development is delayed an estimated seven months (Ludman and Wynbrandt, page 23). Instead of walking at 12-14 months, Down syndrome babies usually learn to walk between 18 and 36 months. Seventy-five percent have hearing impairment (Ludman and Wynbrandt, page 23). Half of Down syndrome patients have IQ's in the range of 30-50, which is classified as "moderate retardation" (Ludman and Wynbrandt, page 22). The risk of Leukemia is twenty times more for people who have Down syndrome (Ludman and Wynbrandt, page 22). For those who contract Leukemia, there is also a higher mortality rate (Baily, Chessells, Gibson, Hann, Harrison, Hill, and Richards). Alzheimer's disease is also prevalent in Down syndrome patients. Twenty-five percent or more of individuals with Down syndrome will develop Alzheimer's disease (National Down Syndrome Society). Thyroid disease, most commonly hypothyroidism, is present in about 15 percent of individuals with Down syndrome, which causes decreased growth and development (National Down Syndrome Congress).

Many forms of heart disease are also linked to Down syndrome. About 50 percent of people with Down syndrome are born with congenital heart defects (National Down Syndrome Society). The most common, making up 50 percent of the total, is Atrioventricular Septal Defect (AVSD) (Common Heart Defects). This is when there is a hole between the atria and ventricles and one common valve between the two atria and two ventricles, and can cause pulmonary hypertension (Common Heart Defects). Another common heart disease amo

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