Down Syndrome In The News
Fossil reveals Neanderthals cared for 6-year-old with Down syndrome
Individuals with Down syndrome have been on earth for longer than we’ve even realized.
A recent scientific discovery suggests that a 6-year-old Neanderthal child had Down syndrome. This discovery comes from a new analysis of a fossil of an ear bone found in a cave in Spain.
This is the first known finding to reveal Neanderthals had Down syndrome. Neanderthals are humans’ closest relatives and lived approximately 400,000 to 40,000 years ago.
The ear bone was initially excavated in 1989 at Cova Negra, a cave in the province of Valencia. The bone was mixed in with animal remains and wasn’t identified until recently – scientists found that the ear bone had abnormalities consistent with Down syndrome.
According to researchers, this finding is extremely significant from an anthropological perspective because it suggests Neanderthals acted altruistically and cared for one another, as multiple group members would have likely assisted the mother in caring for the 6-year-old child.
Read more about this scientific discovery here.
Down Syndrome Population Gains Access to Clinical Trial of New Alzheimer’s Drug
It finally happened.
For years, we’ve known about the ALARMING link between Alzheimer’s and Down syndrome – a staggering 90% of individuals with DS will develop Alzheimer’s by the young age of 54 — it’s the No. 1 killer of people with DS.
Despite these dire statistics, individuals with DS have been shut out and excluded from every Alzheimer’s study.
…Until now.
Eli Lilly and Company (Lilly) just announced that people with Alzheimer’s are invited to participate in a clinical trial for a new Alzheimer’s drug, donanemab. Up to this point, donanemab has only been tested in trials in neurotypical people with Alzheimer’s, but that is finally changing.
This is a HUGE WIN! Down syndrome is the largest chromosomal disability in our country and yet, it’s the least funded! But we’re working to change that.
Though more work still needs to be done, this announcement from Lilly goes a long way. Individuals with Down syndrome are finally getting a seat at the table!
To read more about this breakthrough in the DS community click here.
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