Apparently some of the gene duplication that is responsible for Downs, is also what allows people with Down’s Syndrome to have much lower rates for all types of cancer than average folk. Considering that Down’s Syndrome is currently seen as a disability, it will be a terrific twist of irony that these disabled people may be the salvation for the rest of from our most prolific killer, aside from stupidity, cancer.
After reviewing data from 18′000 participants, Down’s Syndrome patients only had about 10% of the expected cancers. That’s a roundabout way of saying that people with Down’s Syndrome have 90% cancer, and that is statistically VERY significant. Down’s people do get leukimia at the same rates as everyone else, but that cancer may use a different mechanism for growing and spreading.
http://www.reuters.com/article/healthNews/idUSTRE54J5IN20090520
