Down Syndrome Prevention and Mitigation

What are ways to prevent Down's syndrome?

Michael Mangold, Son with Down Syndrome; Down Syndrome Association of WI

Originally Answered: Is there any way to get rid of down syndrome?

There are just a few that I know of, and they’re not highly effective.

There is a well-known association between maternal age and the risk of having a baby with Down Syndrome. This isn’t a big correlation, though. This rate rises significantly over age 35 because older eggs are more prone to chromosomal disruptions. However, more DS children are born to women under 35 simply because they have more babies.

The risk is higher in asymptomatic parents who carry the third 21st chromosome, and in those who have had previous Down Syndrome kids.

One under-appreciated risk was the anti-diabetic drug Rezulin (troglitazone). It was pulled from the U.S. market by the FDA for other adverse reactions like liver failure. 63 people died here because of that.

But there are MANY ways to increase intellectual capabilities. Some I base on research, and some I used on my son Jon. His results are nothing short of miraculous.

Firstly, there are some things you should NOT do. Avoid high-sulfur foods like asparagus. The extra 21st chromosome increases hydrogen sulfide in their brains, which destroys neurons. Conversely, Omega-3's protect brain cells which is why he supplements with fish oil. You can use krill oil and/or flaxseed oil if they have difficulties taking fish oil. Flaxseed, however, becomes less effective as we age due to the natural decrease in the enzyme that converts it into DHA and ALA, the two active fatty acid forms.

Lycopene is found in high levels in tomatoes. Or they can take the capsule. My observation is that the addition of any “good fat” like olive oil, coconut oil, avocado oil, and even saturated fats from meats helps significantly. I believe this is due to enhanced absorption of lycopene, but am open to other mechanisms, too. One of Jon's favorite drinks is the water from canned tomatoes with a touch of fish oil mixed in.

Avoid sedating antihistamines like Benadryl. The non-sedatingn ones are ok.

Craniosacral Massage Therapy helps I believe, by increasing the flow of cerebrospinal fluid.

Avoid supplements high in sulfur such as SAMe and Glucosamine Sulfate. The latter is especially toxic since glucosamine destroys brain cells of these people.

Keep them mentally stimulated. Read to them and encourage them to read, especially aloud. Teach them sign language and learn it yourself. One of my most favorite activities with Jon was signing across the auditorium to each other during assemblies and holiday pageants.

Surround them with stimulating sights, sounds, and even smells. Small doses of TV are welcome, especially educational programming.

Tablets are excellent tools. One time we kept receiving Judy Garland DVDs from Netflix in the mail. It turns out that he had a thang for Dorothy.

The National Association for Child Development is a non-profit organization that I highly recommend. Jon's therapist was outstanding and performed wonders. Despite the name, it is also for adults: Home - NACD International | The National Association for Child Development.

My last but most important recommendation is love. Lots and lots of unconditional love. Ask me some time about my Parenting Lessons.

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"Eight Full Glasses per Day" is NOT the Answer

How much water do we need to drink to survive?

Michael Mangold, former ER, Urgent Care, and Family Physician (1990-2014)

Answered 2m ago

Surprisingly little. And the “Eight full glasses per day” thing is not the correct answer. It is too general and not based on solid research.

I read this first in a book called “Evolutionary Medicine” by Stephen C. Stearns and Ruslan Medzhitov. I learned quite a few surprises. Like that the edema (swelling) you get after injuring a joint like the ankle, is actually a form of splinting. It limits movement around the joint, preventing further damage. Recall the “RICE” mnemonic: Rest, ice, compression, and elevation? Turns out you only require ”R.”

Now water. It's been a few years since I read it so my memory may betray me a little, but there is no one magic formula, and it's less than you think. Humans in hot and arid regions obviously need more than say those in Scandinavia. Those of us who are physically active need more than the sedentary. The answer also depends on body height and weight and Body Mass Index. Bigger people need more fluids.

The 8FGpD approach says to never let your mouth get dry, and don't let your urine turn dark yellow or orange. EM says that's nonsense. A dry mouth is merely a measure of comfort, not hydration. For example, I have dry mouth because of certain meds I take, and all I need to do is to swish-and-swallow a quarter cup of water to feel comfortable again. And my pee rarely turns shades.

So how do you calculate how much YOU need? No clue. It's in the book but since it's cost prohibitive right now, I guess I'll find the correct Answer when I can afford it.

http://bit.ly/2O0gZ5z

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Lassez-Faire

My Quora Answer to:

What are some historical examples of laissez-faire capitalism?

Basically all of humanity before the Agricultural Revolution.

There are a lot more examples since then which I'll talk about later, but permit me to clarify a few things, especially in light of some of the erroneous and misleading Answers already posted here.

Laissez-faire capitalism is a relatively recent term used to describe the ancient practice of exchanging labor for goods and services without the intervention of the state. That's it. Money may or may not be involved. Witness cryptocurrencies.

The example given here about the factories in Industrial Age England is a misrepresentation and part of our educational system's indoctrination program. These factories were supported and encouraged by the British government, which profited from the exploitation of children and workers, too. This form of economics is called “mercantilism” and it's modern version is called “corporate cronyism.” In purely political terms, it is “corruption.” it is NOT LFC!

With the advent of the Agricultural Revolution, certain thugs realized that they could control others by controlling resources such as grain, water, and arable lands. This is also the advent of “civilization,” which is the biggest misnomer ever. Those who placed themselves in charge had the best food and luxuries, slaves, their choice of women to screw (including those who were already partnered), and later hoards of gold, silver, and precious gems. And they also brought us war and genocide. Prior to the that, there were merely battles between tribes and intermingling through non-forcedvsex. If that's your idea of “civilization,” please read no further

The example of Somalia is just ludicrous. This is an African nation that has been controlled by various foreign states for centuries and what we are witnessing is not “laissez-faire capitalism” but rather chaos created by past statist failures. A better comparison would be between pre-state and present conditions. Claiming that this is LFC is as stupid as saying an older alcoholic is the same as when he was a baby.

Speaking of chaos, most confuse “anarchy” with it. They are not the same and even ancient Greeks knew better. How far we've fallen in terms of education since then.

Chaos is disorder, violence, and unacceptable. Anarchy simply means without government. The overwhelming majority of anarchists, yesterday and today, have been non-violent, loving, and compassionate. Antifa is an exception. And they are not Anarcho-Capitalists but rather Anarcho-Socialists, which is an oxymoron, and who, like most socialists, and unlike us AnCaps, believe violence justifies the ends.

More examples of successful stateless societies? Most of the Pre-Columbian New World, Ireland until taken over by England, many utopian societies that failed because of state suppression, the Amish, and most of the world's countries like Nicaragua which, while nominally socialist, thrive because of unfettered capitalism. I should know. I lived there.

TID

My Quora Answer to:

If a prescription says take three times a day. does it mean 3 times in 12 or 24 hrs?

Carmel Maalouf is correct. TID means three times a day, essentially in 24 hours. If I wanted a med taken evenly spaced out over that time, I would write “every 8 hours.” My decision which to write depended on the efficacy and half-life of that particular medication. If the half-life, basically the amount of time it is effective in your system, is around 8 hours, then I would write it that way. If much longer, but less than 12 hours, I would write TID. Why 12 hours? Because then I would go for twice a day (BID), or “every 12 hours.”

FYI: the medical abbreviation for “every” is a q/Q with a line over it. Many hospital systems no longer allow their docs to use it because it makes the administrators cry.

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