Re: What is the history of Progeria? How long Progeria patients live?

Only 100 cases of progeria (Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome; accelerated aging) have been reported in the world medical literature. The malady usually appears by age 7 years and patients usually die by age 27 years with a median age at death of 13 years.

The disease is thought to be due to a genetic abnormality and has occurred in all races. It is interesting to note that while the cause of death is premature senility, the usual hallmarks of the normal aging process, such as cataracts and diminished hearing do not occur in this syndrome. A similar entity, Werner's syndrome, occurs in the second or third decade of life (also thought to be a genetic abnormality). The disease leads to death in the 4th decade of life and is associated with the normal phenomena of the aging process.