Progeria
The Aging Disease that has Baffled Scientists Worldwide
What is Progeria?
Progeria is an extremely rare disease that increases a child's aging process by 10 times. There are approximately 350 children with the disease in the world. Generally diagnosed around the age of 2, the average life expectancy is 12 years. It was introduced hundreds of years ago and still, little progress has been made. The children with this disease have a very large amount of a specific protein. We all have it, but they have a lot more and thats what causes them to age so quickly.
My philosophy for a happy life | Sam Berns | TEDxMidAtlantic
Treatment of Progeria?
Presently there is no known cure for progeria. There are a few certain drugs that can even add years to the patients lives. But nothing close to a cure. The gene mutation is incredibly difficult to work with. Scientists around the world are yet to find something to stop this terrible disease in it's tracks .
Progeria Research Foundation Home Page
This is the homepage of the progeria foundation created by the parents of Sam Berns himself.
This is the deformed shell of a mutated gene. This is a progeria cell. A regular cell looks a lot different. It has a full green core.
Symptoms
- Losing teeth
- Hair Loss
- Wrinkled skin
- Bones deteriorate
- Strokes
- Heart disease
- Failing to gain weight
Affects on the Systems of the Body
Progeria affects almost every system in the body but mainly the cardiovascular. Children with this disease usually die of heart attack or stroke around the age of 13. This is caused by the extreme amount of stress progeria puts on the heart. This makes it difficult to properly function (circulation of blood through the body).
The Triumphant Story of Sam Berns, Progeria and Math
Diagnosis
Children with progeria usually start having noticeable symptoms around the age of 2. The symptoms are very unique, so it is very easy to tell, 2 out of 3 children diagnosed will pass away before they reach 12 years.
Progeria: A Growing Hope
Connections
I don't have any real connections to this disease. I saw the first video on Sam Berns, and thought it was really interesting and sad. So when the opportunity came up to do a project on it, I really wanted too. This disease is so rare most people don't have any connections.
Works Cited
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