How long do people with down syndrome live?

Why do people with down syndrome not live as long as other people?

• To me, they seem like they'd be perfectly healthy. but the oldest person with down syndrome is/was in her 60s.

• Answer:

  Most people with trisomy 21 (Down's Syndrome) have fairly serious heart and/or kidney problems, which leads to them dying often before their 60s. Sometimes these problems don't cause too many health issues when they are younger, but like all of us, as they age, any organ problems become more serious.