In recent decades the life expectancy of people with Down syndrome has surged past 60 years, so the focus of research at the Alana Down Syndrome Center at MIT has been to make sure people can enjoy the best health during that increasing timeframe.
“A person with Down syndrome can live a long and happy life,” said Rosalind Mott Firenze, scientific director of the center founded at MIT in 2019 with a gift from the Alana Foundation. “So the question is now how do we improve health and maximize ability through the years? It’s no longer about lifespan, but about healthspan.”
Firenze and three of the center’s Alana Fellows scientists spoke during a webinar, hosted on April 17th, where they described the center’s work toward that goal. An audience of 99 people signed up to hear the webinar titled “Building a Better Tomorrow for Down Syndrome Through Research and Technology,” with many viewers hailing from the Massachusetts Down Syndrome Congress, which co-sponsored the event.
