On April 16, 2003, the
Progeria Research Foundation and
National Institutes of Health announced the discovery of the
gene responsible for this disease. A single, simple change from
cytosine (C) to
thymine (T) within the
Lamin A gene was detected in 18 of 20 children studied who suffered from classic
progeria.
It is expected that further research into the effects of this genetic mutation will help shed light not only on this disease, but on human aging itself.