A new research has revealed that recent years have seen a sharp surge in the number of infants who are born with Down Syndrome. As per the figures shared by the study, which was conducted in 10 prominent regions of the country, a 31% increase was registered in infants born with the condition between 1979 and 2003, from the previous 9 to 11.8 per 10,000 live birth across US.

An average increase of 0.9% has been recorded by the study in number of live births with the condition per year.

For the sake of research, data collected from "10 population-based birth registries" from across the country, "estimating prevalence at birth among children up to age 19 in each region, and also in all of the areas together".

It is a common known fact that women who choose to delay having a baby till 35 years of age, or more, expose their new born kids to an increased risk of Down, and the study has managed to provide further proof pointing to the same.

"During the periods studied, prevalence at birth significantly increased among births to older mothers and decreased slightly among births to younger mothers. The overall [Down syndrome] prevalence at birth was almost five times higher among births to older mothers (38.6 per 10,000) than among births to younger mothers (7.8 per 10,000)", the researchers noted.

The study has been published in the November 30 issue of Pediatrics.