History of Progeria
In 1886, Jonathan Hutchinson and Hastings Gilford first discovered a rare condition among small children that caused rapid aging. The disease was named ‘Progeria’ or ‘Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome’. Progeria is a rare genetic condition that affects one in eight million newborns worldwide. It can occur without any cause and can be seen in a family with no history of progeria. In very rare cases, more than one child from the same family can be affected by the disease.
Cause of Progeria
In 2003, researchers found mutation in the LMNA gene as the cause of progeria. It is suggested that the change occurs in a single DNA building block (nucleotide) in the gene. This can disrupt the structure and function of the nuclei, making the cells die prematurely, thereby leading to Progeria.
Progeria Symptoms
Normal growth of a child slows down considerably in the initial year, though there is normal motor development. The child looks old with narrowed face, conspicuous scalp veins and pinched nose. There is high risk of delayed tooth formation. Generally, the limbs shows fragility accompanied with joint stiffness.
Listed below are some progeria symptoms:
One may want to seek immediate medical advice after noticing slow growth, hair loss and skin change in a child. So far, permanent cure for progeria syndrome is yet to be found.
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