Definition

Noun: A rare genetic disorder characterized by the dramatic, rapid appearance of aging beginning in childhood. Symptoms typically include growth failure, loss of body fat and hair, aged-looking skin, and joint stiffness, often leading to health conditions seen in much older adults.

Usage and Examples

• Noun:
  • Progeria is an extremely rare condition, affecting about 1 in 20 million people.
  • The study aimed to understand the cellular mechanisms underlying progeria.
  • Children with progeria often have a characteristic appearance due to the premature aging process.

Advanced Usage

• "Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS)": This is the full, formal medical name for the classic and most common form of progeria.
  • Research into Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome provides insights into normal human aging.

Variants and Related Words

• Progeroid (adjective): Resembling or characteristic of progeria. Used to describe syndromes or conditions that cause premature aging.
  • Some other genetic disorders have progeroid features.

Synonyms

• Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome: The formal synonym for the main type of progeria.
• Premature aging syndrome: A descriptive, non-technical term for conditions like progeria.

Noun

1. a rare abnormality marked by premature aging (grey hair and wrinkled skin and stooped posture) in a child