However, it is clear from the data in Table 1 that increasing maternal age is associated with increasing risk. One conclusion is that it is better to have children early in adult life, to avoid this increasing risk. On the other hand, it is now possible to diagnose the disorder prenatally, by chromosome analysis of fetal cells. Some women are electing prenatal diagnosis, with the aim of aborting the fetus if it has trisomy 21. It is likely that future technological advances will enable both prenatal diagnosis and correction of this and other genetic disorders.
Individuals can be male or female.
It is more severe than Down syndrome. All show failure to thrive and mental retardation. Half or more show growth deficiency and hypertonicity after the neonatal period. 16 - Clenched fist and over lapping fingers in Trisomy 18. Edward syndrome babies exhibit an unusual posture of the hands, as shown in Fig.