The Adult Down Syndrome Center is a health care clinic for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome in Park Ridge, Illinois.
(1)
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 providing 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/
02/11/2026
The autonomic nervous system is the part of the nervous system that functions "automatically" and directs the functioning of body systems that we don't have to think about controlling (such as the opening and constricting of the airways in our lungs). This system seems to function differently in people with Down syndrome, which may contribute to:
🫀 lower blood pressures and pulses
🚽 gastrointestinal and urinary problems
🩺 increased frequency of fainting
🌡 lower body temperatures
Learn more in the article by Brian Chicoine, MD, Medical Director of the Adult Down Syndrome Center, linked below.
Over the next few weeks, several Down syndrome organizations are hosting webinars on a variety of topics including healthy lifestyles, transitions, dementia, and mental health. We have compiled a list at the link below.
Three of the webinars will be presented by healthcare professionals at the Adult Down Syndrome Center - Shelly Verma, DO, MSGPH (physician), Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L (occupational therapist), and Brian Chicoine, MD (physician).
Do you know of other webinars? Please share them in the comments!
02/09/2026
🐾💔 Saying goodbye to a pet is never easy. Individuals with Down syndrome may need extra support to understand and cope with loss. Our Resource Library has a visual story that helps explain what happens when a pet dies, how it might make us feel, and ways to find comfort. Access the resource for free at the link below.
We all experience anxiety and stress from time to time. We may feel anxious about an exam at school, new job, medical appointment, disagreement with a friend, or other similar situations. This is typical. However, if anxiety interferes with our day-to-day lives on a long-term basis, an anxiety disorder may have developed.
There are several types of anxiety disorders. Some that we see most commonly at the Adult Down Syndrome Center are generalized anxiety disorder, agoraphobia, panic disorder, and selective mutism. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) was previously classified as an anxiety disorder but now is classified separately. However, many people with OCD also have an anxiety disorder. That appears to be the case for people with Down syndrome who have OCD, too.
In the article linked below, Brian Chicoine, MD, discusses generalized anxiety disorder in individuals with Down syndrome, provides resources for supporting individuals with Down syndrome who are experiencing anxiety, and shares a link to information about other types of anxiety disorders.
🎉 Castle Connolly named Brian Chicoine, MD, and Erin Dominiak, MD, two of the wonderful physicians at the Adult Down Syndrome Center, "Top Doctors" for 2025! 🎉
Dr. Chicoine has served as the Medical Director of the Adult Down Syndrome Center since it opened in 1992. Dr. Dominiak has been a physician at the Center since 2007. Both Dr. Chicoine and Dr. Dominiak graduated from Loyola University of Chicago Stritch School of Medicine and completed their Family Medicine residency at Advocate Lutheran General Hospital, where they are now on the faculty.
Proprioception is the part of the sensory system that helps us know where our bodies are in space. Proprioceptive sensors work differently in people with Down syndrome which can impact:
➡ Motor coordination (they may appear "clumsy")
➡ Motor planning (they may have difficulty carrying out a movement even though they know how to do it)
➡ Movement grading (using too much or too little force when doing a movement)
Providing input to the muscles and joints or proprioceptive input can improve proprioception. Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, occupational therapist at the Adult Down Syndrome Center, provides more information on proprioception in people with Down syndrome in the article linked below.
There are differences in the frequency of health conditions in people with Down syndrome compared to people without Down syndrome. Some conditions, such as coronary artery disease and hypertension (high blood pressure), are less common, while other conditions, such as hypothyroidism and sleep apnea, are more common in people with Down syndrome.
Our Resource Library has the recording of a webinar presented by Brian Chicoine, MD, on common and uncommon health conditions in adults with Down syndrome. Dr. Chicoine discussed how these differences may affect health promotion and health care of people with Down syndrome. The recording and slides from the webinar are available at the link below.
Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), also known as acid reflux or heartburn, happens when stomach contents move backwards from the stomach up into the esophagus. Symptoms include pain or burning in the chest or upper stomach, chronic cough, regurgitation, sore throat, loss of enamel on the teeth, sleep disruption, and others.
There are several reasons why GERD is common in people with Down syndrome including decreased muscle tone of the sphincter between the stomach and esophagus. There are some strategies that can be tried at home to avoid or treat GERD such as diet changes, avoiding eating before lying down or going to sleep, and others. If the strategies do not help, it is important to talk to a healthcare professional about other options which may include medications. Chronic inflammation related to persistent heartburn can cause scarring and then narrowing of the esophagus.
We often receive questions about how to find therapists, psychiatrists, or other mental health professionals with experience working with individuals with Down syndrome. Our Resource Library has an article with a few suggestions such as asking for recommendations from local Down syndrome organizations or parent groups (see the link below).
While many mental health professionals do not have experience working specifically with people with Down syndrome, they can adapt their existing skills to effectively work with individuals with Down syndrome seeking mental health support and treatment. Several organizations have developed articles, webinar recordings, and trainings that mental health professionals can use to learn how to adapt their approach to best support individuals with Down syndrome.
Katie Frank, PhD, OTR/L, the occupational therapist at the Adult Down Syndrome Center, will discuss transitions - from major changes such as graduating high school or moving out of the house to smaller changes such as adjusting to a new pair of shoes or transitioning between activities.
Date: Wednesday, February 25, 2026
Time: 10:30 a.m. Central Time
Location: Zoom
Cost: Free
Iron deficiency occurs when a person does not have enough iron in their body. It can cause anemia, which is a low red blood cell count. This type of anemia is referred to as iron deficiency anemia.
Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anemia can occur for many reasons in adults with Down syndrome. One reason is untreated celiac disease (having celiac disease and not following a gluten-free diet). Celiac disease is more common in people with Down syndrome.
A complete blood count (CBC) is a blood test that is used to determine whether a person has anemia. Additional blood tests are necessary to determine if it is due to iron deficiency. Learn more in the article linked below.
Our Resource Library has several visuals and stories about employment and the workplace. "Story About Work" explains things we should do at work such as:
⭐ doing our best
👂🏽 listening,
✅ following the rules,
❓ asking questions if we are confused or unsure about something.
Our library also has resources on finding a job that is right for each individual and having appropriate conversations in the workplace. Access them for free at the link below!
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Adult Down Syndrome Center posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
Established in 1992, the Adult Down Syndrome Center was the first and remains the largest clinic for adolescents and adults with Down syndrome in the United States. Part of Advocate Aurora Health Care, it is located on the campus of Advocate Lutheran General Hospital in Park Ridge, Illinois.
Advocate Aurora Health is one of the 10 largest not-for-profit, integrated health systems in the United States. A national leader in clinical innovation, health outcomes, consumer experience and value-based care, the system serves nearly 3 million patients annually in Illinois and Wisconsin across more than 500 sites of care.
The Adult Down Syndrome Center and its providers are nationally recognized for their expertise in providing 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).
