progeria

progeria One of a group of rare genetic disorders that causes premature aging in children. The classic type of progeria is Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, which is characterized by dwarfism, baldness, pinched nose, small face and small jaw relative to the head size, delayed tooth formation, aged-looking skin, stiffness of joints, hip dislocations, arteriosclerosis, and heart disease. These children begin to display signs of accelerated aging as early as 18 months of age and have a drastically shortened lifespan. There is no cure or specific treatment. Progeria is due to a mutation in the gene for Lamin A protein. Werner syndrome has a later onset and is sometimes called progeria of the adult. See also Werner syndrome.