Adult Down Syndrome Center

Adult Down Syndrome Center The Adult Down Syndrome Center is a health care clinic for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome in Park Ridge, Illinois.
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Established in 1992, the Adult Down Syndrome Center was the first and remains one of the largest clinics for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome in the United States. Part of Advocate Health Care, it is located on the campus of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois. The Adult Down Syndrome Center and its providers are nationally recognized for their expertise in providin

g healthcare for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome. They have received awards from many organizations including the National Down Syndrome Congress, Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group, and the Illinois Academy of Family Physicians. The physicians at the Center – Brian Chicoine, MD and Erin Dominiak, MD – have been recognized as Top Doctors by Chicago Magazine and Castle Connolly. The Center engages in patient-centered research and clinical trials. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) awarded the Center along with the University of Chicago an INCLUDE project grant. The Center was also selected as one of four Center of Excellence Sites for the Down Syndrome Clinical Trials Network launched by LuMind IDSC Foundation. The Center is also committed to sharing its knowledge and experience with others. The Center’s co-founders Brian Chicoine, MD and Dennis McGuire, PhD have published two books – Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome: A Guide to Emotional and Behavioral Strengths and Challenges and The Guide to Good Health for Teens and Adults with Down Syndrome. Staff at the Center frequently present at local and national events including the National Down Syndrome Congress Convention and the National Down Syndrome Society Adult Summit. Information is also shared in an extensive online Resource Library that covers a broad range of physical and psychosocial health topics (https://adscresources.advocatehealth.com). We help people with Down syndrome live well. To help support our mission, please visit: https://advocategiving.org/adsc/

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a liver condition that used to be referred to as non...
06/03/2026

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) is a liver condition that used to be referred to as nonalcoholic fatty liver disease or fatty liver disease. MASLD is a liver condition in which excess fat accumulates in the liver.

MASLD is more common in people with Down syndrome, possibly because of differences in metabolic function in people with Down syndrome compared to people without Down syndrome. Additionally, some of the conditions (such as obesity) that increase the risk of MASLD are more common in people with Down syndrome. There are lifestyle choices that can reduce the risk of MASLD and treat MASLD, including:
▪ Losing weight (if the person is overweight or obese)
▪ Eating diets that include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean protein
▪ Limiting saturated and trans fats, added sugars, and highly or ultra-processed foods
▪ And others

Learn more in the article by Brian Chicoine, MD, linked below.
🔗https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/masld/

🩸A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test that can provide information for monitoring or diagnosing health condition...
06/02/2026

🩸A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test that can provide information for monitoring or diagnosing health conditions. Red blood cell count is one of the measures in a CBC. Red blood cells carry oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream.

Having an abnormally high red blood cell count is called polycythemia.
Dehydration is a common cause of polycythemia in adults with Down syndrome. When a person is dehydrated, there is less fluid in the bloodstream. Dehydration does not increase the actual number of red blood cells; however, the percentage of the blood that is red blood cells increases because there is less fluid. Other causes of polycythemia include sleep apnea, congenital heart disease, and other causes of low oxygen levels.

Brian Chicoine, MD, shares more information in the article linked below.
🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/polycythemia/

Looking for a simple way to support healthy habits? Check out the Activity Trackers in our online Resource Library! 👉 ht...
06/01/2026

Looking for a simple way to support healthy habits?

Check out the Activity Trackers in our online Resource Library!
👉 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/activity-trackers/

These easy-to-use tools can help individuals with Down syndrome:
▪ Track daily routines
▪ Build healthy habits
▪ Stay motivated by seeing their progress
▪ Achieve goals
▪ Increase their independence and confidence

💡Tip: Try using the trackers consistently each week and celebrate wins along the way - small steps add up!

Today, we are featuring a webinar hosted by the National Down Syndrome Society in February called "Building Lifestyle We...
05/31/2026

Today, we are featuring a webinar hosted by the National Down Syndrome Society in February called "Building Lifestyle Wellness Strategies for Individuals with Down Syndrome." The presenter was Shelly Verma, DO, MSGPH, DipABLM, a physician at our Adult Down Syndrome Center. Dr. Verma shared a wealth of information about key pillars of lifestyle medicine including:
🍎 Nutrition
🏃 Physical activity
😴 Restorative sleep
🧘‍♀️ Stress management
👫 Social connections

The recording, slides, and additional resources for supporting healthy habits are available in our online library at the link below.
🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/building-lifestyle-wellness-strategies-webinar-2-11-2026/

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is any bleeding that occurs in the digestive or GI tract. The GI tract starts at the mout...
05/30/2026

Gastrointestinal (GI) bleeding is any bleeding that occurs in the digestive or GI tract. The GI tract starts at the mouth and ends at the a**s. Medical problems in the GI tract as well as medical problems in other parts of the body can cause GI bleeding. Several medical problems that can cause GI bleeding are more common in people with Down syndrome including:
▪ Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) or heartburn
▪ Celiac disease
▪ Constipation
▪ Ulcers

A variety of tests such as blood tests, f***l occult blood test, CT scan, GI x-rays, and others may be used to determine the cause of GI bleeding. The cause of the GI bleeding guides the treatment. Brian Chicoine, MD, shares more information about GI bleeding in the article linked below.

🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/gi-bleeding/

As the seasons and weather change, our clothing selections also need to change. Some individuals with Down syndrome have...
05/29/2026

As the seasons and weather change, our clothing selections also need to change. Some individuals with Down syndrome have difficulty selecting clothing and getting dressed for a variety of reasons. If a person gets overwhelmed by having too many choices or has trouble knowing which clothing items are seasonally appropriate, it can be helpful to remove clothing items that are not in season from the room, closet, or dresser.

Our occupational therapist Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, shares more tips for selecting clothing and getting dressed in the article linked below. The tips address a variety of issues such as:
▪ challenges with fasteners,
▪ putting clothing on backwards or inside out,
▪ and more.

🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/selecting-clothing-dressing-tips/

May is Mental Health Awareness Month. While estimates vary, it is thought that about 40 percent of people with Down synd...
05/28/2026

May is Mental Health Awareness Month.

While estimates vary, it is thought that about 40 percent of people with Down syndrome develop a mental health condition during their lifetime.

Sadly, a misperception that persists about people with Down syndrome is that they are always happy and they don’t get stressed. People with Down syndrome can experience the full range of feelings and emotions that people without Down syndrome experience. They can also develop mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

Medicinal and/or non-medicinal approaches can help a person with Down syndrome and a co-occurring mental health condition. Our online library has several resources on mental health, including a free PDF version of the book Mental Wellness in Adults with Down Syndrome by Dennis McGuire, PhD, and Brian Chicoine, MD (available in Spanish and English).

The PDF is available at this link ➡ https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/mental-wellness-book-2nd-edition/

We've added a new personal hygiene visual - How To Put On Deodorant - to our Resource Library! There are versions for tw...
05/27/2026

We've added a new personal hygiene visual - How To Put On Deodorant - to our Resource Library! There are versions for two different types of deodorant (stick and spray) as well as versions with different skin colors (lighter and darker). Access this visual and visuals on other personal hygiene tasks at the link below.

🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/how-to-put-on-deodorant-visual/

"It's just Down syndrome." Unfortunately, many families have heard this statement after describing a behavior change or ...
05/26/2026

"It's just Down syndrome."

Unfortunately, many families have heard this statement after describing a behavior change or new symptom that they have noticed their loved one with Down syndrome experiencing. In medical care, this is called diagnostic overshadowing.

When a healthcare professional overshadows with regards to Down syndrome, the professional focuses primarily (or only) on the fact that the person has Down syndrome and less on the possibility of a co-occurring health condition. Diagnostic overshadowing can lead to misdiagnosis or underdiagnosis of potentially treatable health conditions. When a person with Down syndrome has a change in their health, it is important to do a thorough assessment for physical and/or mental health conditions.

Learn more about diagnostic overshadowing in the article by Brian Chicoine, MD, linked below.
🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/diagnostic-overshadowing/

Urinary retention is the build-up of excessive urine in the bladder. It appears to be more common in people with Down sy...
05/25/2026

Urinary retention is the build-up of excessive urine in the bladder. It appears to be more common in people with Down syndrome. Possible complications include:
▪️urinary tract infections
▪️urinary incontinence (accidents)
▪️abdominal pain/discomfort
▪️kidney damage

There are treatments for urinary retention. Urinating every 2-3 hours is one way to prevent the bladder from becoming overfilled. We often recommend using watch/phone alarms, visual schedules, and other reminder systems to encourage individuals with Down syndrome to urinate more regularly.

Learn more about urinary retention in people with Down syndrome in the article linked below.
🔗 https://adultdownsyndrome.org/resources/urinary-retention/

Address

1610 Luther Lane
Park Ridge, IL
60068

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

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