Down syndrome (DS) people are born with three 21 chromosomes.  Because the coding for Super Oxide Dismutase enzymes is also on these three chromosomes there are always three SOD's working in the bodies of Down syndrome people.

    This enzymes is responsible for turning free radicals (superoxide anion radicals) into hydrogen peroxide.  Anyone knows what hydrogen peroxide will do if you pour full strength hydrogen peroxide on a cut!...not to forget the appearance of the edges of the cut after using the hydrogen peroxide!  Well that is what is going on in the bodies and brains of DS people.

    Because the enzymes (catalase and glutathione peroxidase) that convert this caustic hydrogen peroxide into a nontoxic compound in our bodies, is located on a normal paired chromosome and has only two functioning chromosomes, there is always an overabundance of hydrogen peroxide.  This excess H202 then runs around the cell damaging organelles and nuclear components.   When it reaches the cell membrane, it makes lipid peroxidases and programs the cell to self distruct (apoptosis) and die.

    A life time of this activity, starting at conception, can only produce a person with major disabilities.

    But due to TNI - Targeted Nutritional Intervention, life can be different for DS people.  In 1995 in Nature, Busciglio and Yanker demonstrated that fetal nerve cells from non-DS and DS fetuses grew differently.    The non-DS cells grew in an orderly fashion in their cell cultures but the DS cells grew for only 72 hours and then started to die.  When the same experiment was repeated but this time antioxidants were added to the culture, the DS cells grow normally!    This is the basis for using antioxidants in DS people, no matter what their age.   But it is also the reason that beginning this at birth is so important!   One day, I am sure, therapy for DS will begin in utero and it won't have anything to do with terminating the conceptus.....which is the only alternative allopathic medicine has thus far afforded us.