Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy; Laif (laboratorio di Antropologia e Invecchiamento Forense), Sezione di Medicina Legale, Sicurezza Sociale e Tossicologia Forense, University of Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
Department of Anthropology, National Museum of Natural History, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, USA.
J Forensic Leg Med. 2024 Oct;107:102756. doi: 10.1016/j.jflm.2024.102756. Epub 2024 Sep 21.
Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) show growth trajectories which deviate from standard ones due to variations in the growth of facial structures. Studying the effect of aging on the faces of DS individuals is necessary to obtain an accurate result through age progression, a technique based on the study of physiognomic features and used in cases of missing persons. Here we present scientific publications that delve into the rhythms of aging and morphological characteristics of facial features in DS individuals to enable appropriate age progression in cases of missing DS individuals.
The scientific literature considered in this review studies the growth of soft tissue and bone substrate by comparing standard growth values with those measured through anthropometric measurements of individuals with DS. Growth trajectories are described by considering morphological trends both by comparing standard values with those found in individuals with DS and by observing individual physiognomic traits.
When a young individual with DS goes missing, the realization of an age progression requires knowledge of the aging dynamics peculiar to the DS face. Therefore, physical, cognitive, and clinical factors must be considered. Delayed physical development and early aging, such as the onset of puberty and weight gain, have an important impact on the realization of age progression. In fact, depending on the life period to be considered, the effects of aging must be calibrated based on the knowledge gathered from scientific research.
唐氏综合征（Down syndrome，DS）患者的面部结构生长存在差异，导致其生长轨迹偏离标准轨迹。研究衰老对面部 DS 患者的影响对于通过年龄推断技术获得准确结果是必要的，该技术基于对面相特征的研究，用于失踪人员的案例。本研究呈现了深入探讨 DS 患者衰老节律和面部特征形态特征的科学文献，以实现失踪 DS 患者的适当年龄推断。
本综述中考虑的科学文献通过比较 DS 患者的人体测量学测量值与标准生长值来研究软组织和骨基质的生长。通过比较标准值与 DS 患者的实际值以及观察个体的面相特征，描述了生长轨迹的形态趋势。
当年轻的 DS 患者失踪时，实现年龄推断需要了解 DS 面部特有的衰老动态。因此，必须考虑身体、认知和临床因素。身体发育迟缓以及青春期和体重增加等早期衰老对面部年龄推断的实现有重要影响。事实上，根据要考虑的生命阶段，必须根据从科学研究中收集的知识来校准衰老的影响。
