There are alot of diseases, disorders, etc that only affect certain races/ make people more likely to get/be born with it, like sickle cell, osteoporosis…
I’ve noticed that I have never met a black person with Achondroplasia, or someone asian with down syndrome.
Are either of these more likely to occur in because races? if so, why?
{ 2 comments }
Down’s Syndrome can be found in Asians, I have seen 3 cases.
I don’t know about achondroplasia in blacks, but I think it may be prevalent in them.
Although certain diseases are more common in certain races, they may be found in other races as well. It’s sort of globalization!
Though there are no racial factors there are other factors that have influence on expression of these conditions.
Advanced maternal age is a definite risk factor for contracting Trisomy 21, or Downs Syndrome. Just FYI, this is one condition why while receiving pre-natal a pregnant woman will receive a triple screen at 18 weeks gestational age. Down syndrome occurs in about one in every 800 to 1,000 births. It affects an equal number of boys and girls. Less than 25 percent of Down syndrome cases occur due to an extra chromosome in the sperm cell. The majority of cases of Down syndrome occur due to an extra chromosome 21 within the egg cell supplied by the mother. As a woman’s age (maternal age) increases, the risk of having a Down syndrome baby increases significantly. For example, at younger ages, the risk is about one in 4,000. By the time the woman is age 35, the risk increases to one in 400; by age 40 the risk increases to one in 110; and by age 45 the risk becomes one in 35.
With Achondroplasia, advanced paternal age is a significant risk factor. It is caused by a mutation of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3. There is no difference in distribution between race, sex and it occurs one time in every 40,000 live births.
Comments on this entry are closed.