What Are The Symptoms Of Hutchinson-Gilford Syndrome?

Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome (HGPS) is a rare and progressive disorder that causes children to age prematurely, often with an onset within the first few years of their life. This disorder is passed through parental genes to a child. The mutation of the LMNA gene is responsible for causing Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome. This particular mutation causes the body to incorrectly produce a protein needed for the nucleus of a cell to stay together. As a result, the cells in the body of individuals with this condition are unstable, and this abnormality leads to rapid aging. The life expectancy of a Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome patient is thirteen years on average, but some may live up to twenty years. Strokes or cardiovascular problems are commonly the cause of death in affected individuals. Children with this syndrome often appear normal when they are born, but symptoms begin to appear between ten and twenty-four months old in most cases.