Number of babies with Down's Syndrome increasing
- 00:02:22
- ITN
Number of babies with Down's Syndrome increasing
New research has shown that the number of babies diagnosed with Down's syndrome has risen sharply in the last 20 years, largely due to women delaying motherhood. Experts from Queen Mary, University of London say that an increasing numbers of older mothers is behind a 71 per cent rise in the number of babies with the condition between 1989/90 and 2007/8. However, the number of babies born with Down's has remained fairly static over the same period, thanks to improved screening and subsequent abortions, the study found. Live births of Down's babies fell just 1 per cent, from 752 to 743 over the time period. If screening had not happened, the number of babies born with Down's would have risen 48 per cent. The scientists analysed data from the Down's register for England and Wales for the study, published online in the British Medical Journal. Joan Morris, professor of medical statistics at Queen Mary, who led the study, said: "What we're seeing here is a steep rise in pregnancies with Down's syndrome but that is being offset by improvements in screening. It was thought that these improvements would lead to a decrease in the number of births with Down's syndrome. However, due to increases in maternal age this has not occurred." The risk of having a baby with Down's syndrome is one in 940 for a woman aged 30. But by age 40, the risk rises to one in 85.
ITN | October 27, 2009
