Progeria, also known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS), is a rare genetic condition that

causes a child's body to age fast. Most kids with progeria do not live past age 13. The disease affects
both sexes and all races equally. It affects about 1 in every 4 million births worldwide.

A single mistake in a certain gene causes it to make an abnormal protein. When cells use this
protein, called progerin, they break down more easily. Progerin builds up in many cells of kids
with progeria, causing them to grow old quickly.
Progeria is not inherited, or passed down in families.

single gene mutation is responsible for progeria. The gene, known as lamin A (LMNA), makes a
protein necessary for holding the center (nucleus) of a cell together. When this gene has a defect
(mutation), an abnormal form of the lamin A protein called progerin is produced and makes cells
unstable.

Symptoms
Most kids with progeria look healthy when they're born, but they start to show signs of the
disease during their first year. Babies with progeria do not grow or gain weight normally. They
develop physical traits including:

 A bigger head
 Large eyes
 A small lower jaw
 A thin nose with a "beaked" tip
 Ears that stick out
 Veins you can see
 Slow and abnormal tooth growth
 A high-pitched voice
 Loss of body fat and muscle
 Hair loss, including eyelashes and eyebrows
 As children with progeria get older, they get diseases you'd expect to see in people age 50
and older, including bone loss, hardening of the arteries, and heart disease. Children with
progeria usually die of heart attacks or strokes.
 Progeria doesn't affect a child's intelligence or brain development. A child with the
condition isn't any more likely to get infections than other kids, either.

 Diagnosing Progeria
 Since the symptoms are very noticeable, it's likely that your child's pediatrician will spot
them during a routine checkup.
 If you see changes in your child that seem like symptoms of progeria, make an
appointment with your pediatrician or family doctor. Your doctor will do a physical
exam, test hearing and vision, measure pulse and blood pressure, and compare your
child's height and weight to other kids the same age.
  Afterward, if your pediatrician is concerned, you may need to see a specialist in medical
genetics, who can confirm the diagnosis with a blood test.

Treatments
At this time, there's no cure for progeria, but researchers are working on finding one. A kind
of cancer drug, FTIs (farnesyltransferase inhibitors), may fix the damaged cells.
Treatments usually help ease or delay some of the disease's symptoms.
Medication. Your child's doctor may prescribe drugs to lower cholesterol or prevent blood clots.
A low dose of aspirin every day can help prevent heart attacks and stroke. Growth hormone can
help build height and weight.
Physical and occupational therapy can help your child keep moving if they have stiff joints or
hip problems.
Surgery. Some children may have coronary bypass surgery or angioplasty to slow the
progression of heart disease.
At home. Kids with progeria are more likely to get dehydrated, so they need to drink plenty of
water, especially when they're sick or it's hot. Small meals more often can help them eat enough,
too. Cushioned shoes or inserts can ease discomfort and encourage your child to play and stay
active.

Similar Conditions
Wiedemann-Rautenstrauch syndrome and Werner syndrome, which are similar to progeria, do
tend to be inherited. Both of these rare syndromes also cause rapid aging and a shortened life
span.

Tenembaum, Y. (n.d.). Why Historians Need Imagination. Retrieved August 12, 2020, from
https://historynewsnetwork.org/article/163280

Progeria. (2018, February 01). Retrieved August 13, 2020, from

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/progeria/symptoms-causes/syc-20356038