Progeria is a somewhat mysterious illness that affects children all around the globe. The rapid ageing of individuals that suffer with the condition has intrigued scientist and researchers for decades. Because the disease is so rare, very little is known about the condition.
The purpose of this discussion is to explore the various aspects of this condition. We will begin by defining Progeria. Our discussion will also explore the characteristics and causes of the condition. Finally, we will discuss recent developments that may aid in the prevention and treatment of the disease.
Defining Progeria
The Progeria Research Foundation defines Progeria as, "a rare genetic condition characterized by an appearance of accelerated aging in children." ("What is Progeria")
An estimated 1 in 4 million children suffer with the condition. The disease affects both sexes and all races equally. The disease is usually diagnosed in the two years after the birth of the child.
Currently, there are only about 35 children worldwide that have been diagnosed with the disorder. Since the discovery of the disease there have been 100 reported cases. There are children with the condition in South Africa, South America, Australia, Mexico, Germany, the United States of America, the United Kingdom, Austria and Canada. ("What is Progeria")
The word Progeria comes from the Greek language and its meaning is -- prematurely old. The Research Foundation goes on to explain that the most common form of the condition is Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome. ("What is Progeria")
The condition was first recognized by Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson in 1886 and Dr. Hastings Gilford in 1904.
The effects of the condition can be devastating on the children that have it and their families. According to the Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome Network, Children with Progeria age at a rate that is seven times greater than the normal pace. By the time a child with progeria reaches the age of ten they have the same cardiac, respiratory and arthritic conditions as a 70-year-old. ("Introduction")
Characteristics and Causes
There are some common characteristics that individuals with Progeria have. These characteristics include: severe growth...
In addition, children with the condition look identical even if they are from different racial groups. ("What is Progeria")
Oddly, children with the condition do not exhibit many of the ailments associated with old age such as; cataract formation, neuronal changes, diabetes mellitus, and tumors. (Dyer and Sinclair)
Individuals with Progeria also tend to have cardiovascular problems and atherosclerosis. ("What is Progeria") In addition, children with the condition have skeletal abnormalities such as resorption of distal phalanges and diffused osteoporosis. Individuals that have the condition are not mentally retarded or incapacitated. The disease does not affect the mental capacity of the sufferer in any way. (Dyer and Sinclair)
An article entitled "The premature ageing syndromes: insights into the ageing process," published in Age and Ageing magazine explains that there are also biochemical characteristics associated with the condition.
One of the major biochemical characteristics is an increased level of hyaluronic acid. The article explains,
The most thoroughly investigated is the finding of 10-20 times greater urinary excretion of hyaluronic acid in patients with progeria compared with controls...Hyaluronic acid is an unsulphated glycosaminoglycan known to be involved in maintaining the integrity of skeletal, muscular and vascular systems. Alterations in hyaluronic acid concentrations are linked to processes such as scleroderma-like skin changes, collagen hardening and calcification of arterial walls. Brown found that hyaluronic acid levels increase with age in normal subjects from around 1% of total glycosaminoglycan content to around 5-6% over the age of 70, possibly increasing further at very advanced ages. (Dyer and Sinclair)
In other words researchers seem to believe that the increased presence of the acid is what causes the accelerated aging process of those with progeria. Although the presence of the acid is a natural occurrence, the amount of acid excreted through urination indicates that the amount of…
When DNA is damaged, cells can react through cell cycle checkpoints which allows repair to begin before further division can occur. There is also the prokaryotic SOS response which changes gene expression in bacteria as a result of DNA damage. This response is regulated by the production of certain proteins. Moreover, eukaryotic cells also react to DNA damage through producing proteins that begin the process of DNA repair. 8. Mice
1 Something that Impacted My Life From time to time, we all encounter life-changing events. While some of these events are pleasant, others could be painful or unpleasant. It would be prudent to note that some of the said events actually end up shaping our perspectives and viewpoints about life. One specific event that had an everlasting impact on my life was watching Sam Berns on Ted Talk.
Mechanisms of Interspecies Senescence Senescence The nature of human experience has impelled us throughout time to ponder mortality and immortality. Today, biologists are actually beginning to provide answers to what were formally purely philosophical and religious questions. What follows is a discussion of the mechanisms underlying biological mortality and immortality, otherwise known as senescence. In terms of biological immortality, the cnidarian Hydra stands out. Some hydra species have been shown to survive indefinitely
4. How does Luther and Calvin's view of moral evil differ from that of Catholicism? The classical Christian approach to the dilemma of moral evil has been that people are abusing the freedom of choice given to them by their creator. With free will and the ability to choose between good and evil actions, people who exercise the wrong choices can create moral evil, which impacts others. The Catholic Church essentially