A groundbreaking USC Leonard Davis School study published on June 19, 2025, shines new light on why people with Down syndrome (DS) may develop Alzheimer’s disease (AD) earlier and more aggressively—iron may be a core culprit. 1. Why Focus on Iron? 2. Key Research Findings In comparing postmortem samples from individuals with DS + AD […]

For many parents of children with Down syndrome, the diagnosis feels permanent—rooted in every cell of the body. That’s because Down syndrome is caused by something very specific: an extra copy of chromosome 21. Most of us have two copies of each chromosome, but people with Down syndrome have three copies of number 21—this is […]

Inspired by Charlotte Woodward’s inspiring journey In June 2012, at just 22 years old, Charlotte Woodward—a young woman born with Down syndrome—received a donor heart after enduring four open-heart surgeries by age 10. Thirteen years later, she is thriving: dancing, learning guitar, earning a magna cum laude degree in sociology from George Mason University, and […]

Parenting is a demanding journey, and for those raising children with intellectual disabilities, it comes with a unique set of challenges1. Beyond the daily demands, there are often unseen struggles, and one crucial area that can be impacted is a child’s Parenting is a demanding journey, and for those raising children with intellectual disabilities, it […]

A look back at the history of our understanding about the elements that so mix to create a person with Down syndrome is both heartbreaking and hopeful as we see how it’s possible for attitudes to change with knowledge and understanding.