Does anyone kno what Prader-Willi Syndrome is ?

Question

My sister has Prader-Willi Syndrome and i need some info about it .

Answer 1

Try this site.

http://www.pwsausa.org/index.html

Answer 2

did you google it???

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=Pra...

did you check the Mayo Clinic?

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/prader-...

Answer 3

Kids have an unreasonable desire to eat, so much so that they'll just eat forever. If you let them, though, the more they eat, their IQ's will go down. It's a genetic syndrome. You usually have to put a lock on all food in the kitchen.

Answer 4

i know what prader willi syndrome is . i worked in food service in a hospital that had anywhere from 5 to 15 kids that stayed in the hospital to be treated for this .I prepared their meals for them. it is sad , these kids are absolute sweethearts, but yes they will overeat because they are missing the 15th chromosome in their brains(the one that tells them when they are full and when to stop eating). i have seen 16 year olds that were 700 pounds . i loved the kids though, and it is great that there is a hospital probably only one of a very small amount of hospitals that treat this condition. most people dont even know what it is, they have never heard of it , do some research honey and learn about your sister . it will make things easier for the both of you.

Answer 5

What is Prader-Willi syndrome?

Prader-Willi syndrome is a complex genetic condition that affects many parts of the body. In infancy, this condition is characterized by weak muscle tone (hypotonia), feeding difficulties, poor growth, and delayed development. Beginning in childhood, affected individuals develop an insatiable appetite and chronic overeating (hyperphagia). As a result, most experience rapid weight gain leading to obesity. People with Prader-Willi syndrome typically have mental retardation or learning disabilities and behavioral problems. Many people with this disorder also have distinctive facial features and short stature. The genitals in both males and females are underdeveloped, and most affected individuals are unable to conceive children (infertile). Additionally, some people with Prader-Willi syndrome have unusually fair skin and light-colored hair.

How common is Prader-Willi syndrome?

Prader-Willi syndrome affects an estimated 1 in 10,000 to 25,000 people.

What are the genetic changes related to Prader-Willi syndrome?

Prader-Willi syndrome is related to chromosome 15.

The OCA2 gene is associated with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Prader-Willi syndrome is caused by the loss of active genes in a specific region of chromosome 15. People normally inherit one copy of this chromosome from each parent. Some genes are active only on the copy that is inherited from a person's father (the paternal copy). This parent-specific gene activation is called genomic imprinting. Prader-Willi syndrome occurs when the region of the paternal chromosome 15 containing these genes is missing.

Researchers are working to identify genes on chromosome 15 that are responsible for the characteristic features of Prader-Willi syndrome. They have not definitively connected many genes with specific signs and symptoms. Researchers have determined, however, that a deletion of the OCA2 gene on chromosome 15 is associated with unusually fair skin and light-colored hair in some affected individuals. The protein produced from this gene helps determine the coloring (pigmentation) of the skin, hair, and eyes.

Most cases of Prader-Willi syndrome (about 70 percent) occur when a segment of the paternal chromosome 15 is deleted in each cell. In another 25 percent of cases, a person with Prader-Willi syndrome has two copies of chromosome 15 inherited from his or her mother (maternal copies) instead of one copy from each parent. This phenomenon is called maternal uniparental disomy. Rarely, Prader-Willi syndrome can also be caused by a chromosomal rearrangement called a translocation, or by a mutation or other defect that abnormally inactivates genes on the paternal chromosome 15. Each of these genetic changes results in a loss of gene function in a critical region of chromosome 15.

Can Prader-Willi syndrome be inherited?

Most cases of Prader-Willi syndrome are not inherited, particularly those caused by a deletion in the paternal chromosome 15 or by maternal uniparental disomy. These genetic changes occur as random events during the formation of reproductive cells or in early fetal development. Affected people typically have no history of the disorder in their family.

Rarely, a genetic change responsible for Prader-Willi syndrome can be inherited. For example, it is possible for a genetic defect that abnormally inactivates genes on the paternal chromosome 15 to be passed from one generation to the next.