Wednesday 1 January 2014

Slowed Ageing

Source: Discovery Channel on ASTRO, 1 January 2014 at 9am (Southeast Asia: Malaysia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discovery_Channel

"Living with a child who never seems to grow old"

Case 1
Gabby Williams (6 yo)
Normal chromosome but bizarre features, lies down only, lives like a 1-yo
Sequence entire genetic code/genome and find out which had affected her development
Which genes control development and ageing, and development of ageing?

Case 2
Nicky Freeman (40 yo)
Slowed aging and blind, walks and eats by himself, lives like a 10-yo
Do MRI scan
What causes lack of growth?
Pituitary gland: it is posterior and not in its normal position - mal development of the pituitary. A normal pituitary is bigger and in a different position.
His brain was damaged in the early stage of development.
Is his condition genetic? No
Do chromosome analysis - but he is a normal male
Damage to his pituitary is the main cause of his slowed aging
He can walk off his mother's lap and walk over to his doctor, Dr Richard Walker
His condition is not genetic
He had never touched snow so his family took him to the snowy mountains
He was brought to see the Williams family (to meet Gabby Williams)
Nicky loved horses so they arranged for him to ride a horse