Down syndrome Down syndrome is a disorder that includes a combination of birth defects; among children, some degree of mental retardation, characteristic facial features and, often, heart defects, increased infections, problems with vision and hearing, and other health problems. The severity of all of these problems varies greatly among affected individuals. Down syndrome is one of the most common genetic birth defects, affecting approximately one in 800 to 1,000 babies. It generally is caused by an extra …showed first 75 words of 769 total…

…showed last 75 words of 769 total…Down syndrome. However, recent studies suggest that some women who have had a baby with Down syndrome had an abnormality in how their bodies metabolize (process) the B vitamin folic acid. If confirmed, this finding may provide yet another reason why all women who might become pregnant should take a daily multivitamin containing 400 micrograms of folic acid (which has been shown to reduce the risk of certain birth defects of the brain and spinal cord).