Is It Possible, That a Young Child Shows Signs of Aging?

This is a rare fatal genetic disorder which is mainly characterized by premature aging. Patients with the disease usually have a life span of about 20 – 30 years. Some of the most common symptoms that can be noticed include premature aging, balding, mental retardation, etc. The child’s growth stops abruptly at age 3.
When considering the symptoms of Progeria it is very important to consider Progeria as a cause for other medical conditions.

The term  “Progeria” has been derived from a Greek word which translates to “Pre-maturely old”. In 1886, Jonathan Hutchinson and Hasting Gilford discovered the symptoms of Progeria. Since then around 100 cases have been recorded. Aging sets in at an early age and most affected children will not survive past 30 years. Usually it is a heart stroke that is the main cause of early death amongst these Children.

Initially the baby would seem normal. It is after about six to twelve months that the child fails to gain weight. As a result the child’s body tends to grow like a dwarf in contrast to the head. As the disease sets in, the child develops the regular symptoms of aging including, wrinkles and cardio-vascular problems. A child affected with progeria would be characterized by signs of a narrowed face and baldness .

Jaws of the child would be small in size which would be the reason for delayed tooth formation.  The eyes and eyebrows would be hardly visible.  Most children affected with the disease are also affected with cardio-vascular problems. The skin on the child also changes drastically, showing symptoms of Scleroderma, where the connective tissue becomes tough and hardened.

Research is on to understand the disease, but there has been no permanent cure for the progeria syndrome. Ninety percent of children with progeria have a mutation on the gene that encodes the protein lamin A. Progeria usually occurs without cause. It is only very rarely seen in more than one child in a family.Most treatment focuses on reducing complications (such as cardiovascular disease) with heart bypass surgery or low-dose aspirin. Children may also benefit from a high-calorie diet.

Several discoveries have been made that have led to greater understanding and perhaps eventual treatment. Progeria may be a de novo dominant trait. It develops during cell division in a newly conceived zygote or in the gametes of one of the parents. It is caused by mutations in the LMNA (lamin A protein) gene on chromosome 1; the mutated form of lamin A is commonly known as progerin.

Article Author:
This is Diya, a content writer. I have written on event management and event management tips. To get more information on Wedding Cards, Theme Parties, Indian Wedding Games visit our Event Management Blog.  Our other blogs on Honeymoon Destinations India, skin care tips, beauty tips