Myth: Down syndrome can never be cured.
Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.

Who said this?

A few years ago, I named a website 'Cure Down syndrome' and was chastised for it. I literally got hate emails. How dare you say cure in connection with Down syndrome. There is nothing to cure, is what the emails argued.

I named it that on purpose, to see what would happen. Now, five years later, the big boys have it on their website. Granted it is all the way down at the bottom of the page, but it is written in black and white.

Have you guessed yet?

The truth is I'm very happy they are saying the word cure. The definition of cure is: Cure: 1. To heal, to make well, to restore to good health.

Who doesn't want good health?

There are definable problems with Down syndrome and to restore these problems to a more normal, healthy function is a good thing. For example, increasing the ability to learn is a good thing. The Changing Minds Foundation is dedicated to improving learning and memory through modern medicine. It is as simple as restoring functions in the brain to a more normal level. So, is it a cure?

The only problem with the word cure is that people seem to think it means to eliminate the problem in its entirety. So, a person with Down syndrome is only cured if the chromosome is completely removed from every cell. But this is not the true meaning at all. Cured means to restore to good health.

Someone is cured of cancer when the symptoms of cancer are gone, not when the cause of the cancer is eliminated. Many cancers, for example, are due to genetic causes. Hence, the question by the doctor about your family history. They don't ask because they are interested in genealogy. Your family history is important to your future health because of the genes you may carry.

So, who was it that made this statement?

Myth: Down syndrome can never be cured.
Truth: Research on Down syndrome is making great strides in identifying the genes on chromosome 21 that cause the characteristics of Down syndrome. Scientists now feel strongly that it will be possible to improve, correct or prevent many of the problems associated with Down syndrome in the future.

It was on the NDSS, the National Down Syndrome Society's website.

http://www.ndss.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=59&Itemid=76

The only difference between NDSS and CMF is we think the future is now. Thank you to all the dedicated research scientists for making the future NOW.