Overview

• A Swedish cohort study found individuals with Down syndrome have a 4.41-times higher risk of ischemic stroke and a 5.14-times higher risk of hemorrhagic stroke compared to the general population.
• Younger individuals with Down syndrome, particularly those under 40, exhibit a significantly higher risk of heart attack compared to their peers without the condition.
• The study challenges prior assumptions that Down syndrome provides protection against atherosclerosis, showing a unique cardiovascular risk profile instead.
• Life expectancy for people with Down syndrome has risen from 25 years in the 1980s to nearly 60 today, bringing age-related health conditions like cardiovascular disease into sharper focus.
• Experts call for updated surveillance protocols, tailored treatment approaches, and expanded research to address the distinct cardiovascular risks in this population.