Down's syndrome - cause, description, and management

Recently I have heard about and seen people with Down's syndrome, actually I didn't knew anything about them and why they all are alike and have certain disabilities. One thing I knew is that it is and it was a great misfortune as for them as for their parents and relatives. Here are some of my and others ideas about what is the Down's syndrome, how it could be described and of course cause of that illness.Down syndrome is a genetic disorder. People with Down syndrome are humans who have recognizable physical features and limited intellectual abilities which are due to the presence of an extra chromosome 21. It is due to abnormal development of the fetus. Scientists are still learning about what causes this extra genetic material and exactly how it causes the problems of Down syndrome. "The estimated incidence of Down syndrome is between 1 in 1,000 to 1 in 1,100 live births. Each year approximately 3,000 to 5,000 children are born with this disorder. It is believed there are about 250,000 families in the United States who are affected with Down syndrome". (Jean Etienne Dominique Esquirol: Des maladies mentales considerées sous le rapport médicale, hygiènique et médico-legal translation from Russian language, page 234)

Figure 2 - Down's Syndrome incident rates by maternal age, 1995-97

(http://www.wmpi.net/car/downs/figure_2_maternal.htm)

It is almost certain that there have always been people with Down syndrome. The earliest recorded representation of a person with the characteristic features of the condition was found in Aacchen, Germany, painted in about 1505.Then only in 1866 Dr John Langdon Down (1828-1896), an English doctor working in Surrey, first described the characteristic features of the syndrome. (Mark Selikowitz "Down Syndrome the facts" 27 page) "Down's syndrome is one of the most common causes of mental retardation. It is due to...