Wednesday

The disease that kills before life begins

(http://www.progeriaresearch.org/about_progeria.html)

Progeria is a sickening disease that quickly ages children, from very early on. Symptoms of Progeria begin before the child even reaches his or her first birthday. Although Progeria affects the entire world, the Caucasian culture experience Progeria
the most
often. By deforming the cells’ basic structure, most body systems are harmed. Both internally and externally, Progeria changes the lives of these children. Internally, the damage begins before birth, and continue throughout their short lives. The same for externally, but the symptoms show a little later. Progeria sufferers must deal with fragile bodies, misshapen heads, and other unfathomable ailments.

(http://www.progeria.be/informatie_EN.php)-2nd picture

Cardiovascular System

The cardiovascular system distributes blood though the body, using the heart, and blood vessels. Blood leaves the heart oxygenated from the left atrium. On the return trip to the right atrium, it contains waste products from the body that needs cleansing. In the age range of 13-20, Progeria victims pass away from malfunctions with vascular disease.

(http://www.thewellingtoncardiacservices. com/the-heart-cardiovascular-system.asp)


What is Progeria exactly?

Progeria rapidly ages children due to a point mutation in the LMNA gene. A protein made by this gene controls the structure and frame of the cells' membrane. With this disease, Lamin A's production does not occur. Therefore, the cells take on a warped appearance. The exact reason for the disease remains debatable. Evidence points to heredity, but not enough is known to be certain. Progeria somehow hinders the development of most body systems, while negatively aging them.

Treatment

* The main treatment option provides the child with a high-calorie diet and certain other supplements.
* Physical th
erapy, and low-dose aspirin fight against early cardiovascular disease.
* Currently, certain drugs are being experimented with to try to somehow manage Progeria.

Conclusion

At this point in time Progeria has no cure, but I believe that with new perspectives, this disease can be outsmarted. Since 1886, when the disease was first learned of, researchers all over the world have been attempting to find a cure. Today, the publicity for Progeria is astounding. With such funding, the cure is just a step away. We just need to learn more to find the cure.

Who provided the research?--Bibiliography!

http://hayleyspage.com/index.htm

http://nydailynews.healthology.com/childrens-health/article283.htm

http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001657.htm

http://www.geragogia.net/editoriali/earlyaging.html

http://www.genome.gov/11007255#isthere

http://www.progeria.be/informatie_EN.php

http://www.genetichealth.com/g101_changes_in_dna.shtml

http://www.plosbiology.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pbio.0030395