{"id":44513,"date":"2026-07-20T13:03:39","date_gmt":"2026-07-20T11:03:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/down-espana-oafi-firman-acuerdo-colaboracio\/"},"modified":"2026-07-20T13:22:35","modified_gmt":"2026-07-20T11:22:35","slug":"down-espana-oafi-firman-acuerdo-colaboracio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/en\/down-espana-oafi-firman-acuerdo-colaboracio\/","title":{"rendered":"DOWN ESPA\u00d1A and the OAFI Foundation have signed a framework agreement to promote musculoskeletal health among people with Down\u2019s syndrome"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The partnership involves carrying out joint initiatives in the areas of prevention, training and research to improve the quality of life of people with Down\u2019s syndrome<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Barcelona, 20 July 2026.<\/strong> DOWN ESPA\u00d1A<\/a> and the Osteoarthritis Foundation International (OAFI) have signed a framework agreement for collaboration with the aim of promoting joint initiatives that contribute to improving musculoskeletal health and the quality of life of people with Down\u2019s syndrome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This partnership stems from both organisations\u2019 shared commitment to the prevention, early detection and comprehensive management of musculoskeletal conditions, one of the areas with the greatest impact on the health and independence of people with Down\u2019s syndrome throughout all stages of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Down\u2019s syndrome and its link to musculoskeletal conditions<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

People with Down\u2019s syndrome have, from an early age, lower bone mineral density<\/strong> than the general population, a condition that persists or worsens over the years. Furthermore, adults with Down\u2019s syndrome develop early-onset degenerative conditions of the cervical spine<\/strong>, including spondylosis and cervical spondylotic myelopathy, which tend to appear earlier than in adults without Down\u2019s syndrome. Added to this is an increased risk of developing inflammatory arthritis<\/strong>, which is the second most common musculoskeletal condition, second only to flat feet.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Furthermore, one of the greatest challenges identified by specialists is the delay in diagnosis<\/strong>: on average, 3.3 years elapse from the onset of symptoms until this arthropathy is diagnosed in people with Down\u2019s syndrome, compared with 0.7 years in the rest of the paediatric population, leading to a delayed response to the condition and a deterioration in their quality of life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These figures highlight the importance of having screening and early detection protocols in place, as well as of promoting specific research in this field \u2013 two of the key objectives of the agreement between DOWN ESPA\u00d1A and OAFI.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"Down\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Photo by Nathan Anderson<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The strategic pillars of the collaboration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The agreement provides for the development of joint programmes and initiatives in three strategic areas: prevention and early detection<\/strong> through free mobile screening campaigns, organised by OAFI from its charity clinic, which include the promotion of healthy lifestyles and screening<\/strong>; training and public awareness-raising through participation in charity conferences organised by OAFI, such as Articulando el Deporte<\/a> (Madrid) and Osteoarthritis Patients World Congress<\/a> (Barcelona) and research and innovation<\/strong>, with the involvement of members of DOWN ESPA\u00d1A in the OAFI Community<\/a>, a collaborative network of patients that promotes research and the generation of knowledge in the field of musculoskeletal health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A shared commitment to health and quality of life<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Through this agreement, DOWN ESPA\u00d1A and OAFI reaffirm their commitment to promoting health, research and the generation of knowledge, working together to drive forward initiatives that help improve mobility, functionality, independence and quality of life for people with Down\u2019s syndrome in Spain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As with other health issues affecting people with Down\u2019s syndrome, the impact and influence of osteoarthritis, osteoarticular inflammation and osteoporosis still have gaps or aspects that we do not yet fully understand. This long-term collaboration aims to deepen our understanding, resolve clinical uncertainties, support research initiatives and establish whether the factors mentioned are relevant in the adult population with Down\u2019s syndrome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through this collaboration, we also recognise the excellent work being carried out by OAFI in this field and our hope that the collaboration will bring knowledge and benefits to all people with Down\u2019s syndrome, not only in Spain but beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mr Agust\u00edn Mat\u00eda<\/strong>, managing director of Down Espa\u00f1a, states that “Down Espa\u00f1a is delighted to be establishing a partnership and working together with OAFI”.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dr Josep Verg\u00e9s<\/strong>, president of the OAFI Foundation, states: \u201cAt OAFI, we have been working for years to ensure that musculoskeletal health receives the attention it deserves. This agreement with DOWN ESPA\u00d1A enables us to reach a group of people who suffer from these conditions at a particularly early age and, all too often, without a diagnosis. It is not just about treatment, but about taking proactive measures to improve this group\u2019s quality of life<\/em>\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About Down Espa\u00f1a<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

DOWN ESPA\u00d1A is the leading organisation for Down’s syndrome in Spain. It brings together 92 Down’s syndrome organisations from across the country. Since 1991, it has been working to ensure the independence and inclusion of people with Down’s syndrome.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through its programmes and publications on Early Intervention, Health, Education, Employment and Independent Living, it offers support to people with Down syndrome in all areas of their lives to help them achieve full integration into society.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

DOWN ESPA\u00d1A is a member of international associations such as the European Down Syndrome Association and Down Syndrome International, and is a founding member of the Ibero-American Federation of Down Syndrome (FIADOWN).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

About OAFI<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Osteoarthritis Foundation International (OAFI)<\/strong> It is the world’s first and only non-profit foundation dedicated exclusively to people suffering from osteoarthritis, osteoporosis and other osteoarticular conditions. Founded in 2016 and based in Barcelona, OAFI leads the global fight for joint health, promoting programmes focused on education, prevention, research and patient support. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for people living with these conditions by promoting early detection, self-care and patient empowerment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Through international conferences, awareness campaigns, scientific projects and collaborations, OAFI works to place joint health at the centre of the health and social agenda. https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The partnership involves carrying out joint initiatives in the areas of prevention, training and research to improve the quality of life of people with Down\u2019s syndrome Barcelona, 20 July 2026. DOWN ESPA\u00d1A and the Osteoarthritis Foundation International (OAFI) have signed a framework agreement for collaboration with the aim of promoting joint initiatives that contribute to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44506,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1578,538,942,530,958,1699],"tags":[2926,2927,1273,1261,2928],"class_list":["post-44513","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-id-en","category-latest","category-oafi-friends","category-oafi-news","category-patient-area","category-salud-en","tag-down","tag-down-espana","tag-fundacion-internacional-de-la-artrosis-en","tag-fundacion-oafi-en","tag-sindrome-de-down"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44513","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44513"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44513\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":44522,"href":"https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44513\/revisions\/44522"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44506"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44513"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44513"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.oafifoundation.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44513"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}