Werner syndrome

Werner Syndrome (WS, also known as "adult progeria" ) is a very rare, autosomal recessive disorder characterized by the appearance of premature aging.

Werner's syndrome more closely resembles accelerated aging than any other segmental progeria. For this reason, Werner syndrome is often referred to as a progeroid syndrome, as it partly mimics the symptoms of progeria.

History
Werner's syndrome is named after Otto Werner, a German scientist, who, as a student, described the syndrome as part of his doctoral thesis in 1904.

Genetics
Werner syndrome is an autosomal recessive disorder. The WRN gene associated with Werner Syndrome lies on chromosome 8 in humans and it is the only gene known to be associated with Werner syndrome. The disease is caused by a mutation in the WRN gene (or RECQL2), which codes a DNA helicase that functions 3' $$\to$$ 5' as well as base exertion properties that also function in the same direction. Increased telomere attrition and genomic instability have been observed in Werner syndrome, and rapid telomere decay is thought to play a causal role in the clinical and pathological manifestations of the disease. The process by which the mutant WRN gene promotes telomere instability is unknown.

Onset
Although the symptoms manifest after 10 years, the earliest person diagnosed was 6 years old. Following puberty they age rapidly, so that by age 40 they often appear several decades older.

Symptoms
The signs of Werner syndrome are: lack of teenage growth spurt, graying of hair, hoarseness of the voice, thickening of the skin, diabetes mellitus, cataracts, hypogonadism, cancer, and atherosclerosis. Werner causes a "bird-like" pinch to the nose.

Death
In people with Werner syndrome, death usually occurs by myocardial infarction or cancer

Treatment
In 2010, it was found that Vitamin C supplementation reversed the premature aging and several tissue dysfunctions in genetically modified mice. Vitamin C supplementation also appeared to normalize several age-related molecular markers such as the increased levels of the transcription factor NF-κB. Activity of genes activated in human Werner syndrome were decreased by vitamin C, and increased gene activity involved in tissue repair. It is speculated that vitamin C supplementation may be beneficial in the treatment of human Werner syndrome, although there was no evidence of anti-aging activity in the non-mutant mice.

Popular culture
On the episode "Stargazer in a Puddle" from the series Bones, the victim had Werner syndrome.

Werner syndrome was featured in the film Jack, starring Robin Williams, in which his character aged 4 times faster than normal.

In one of the earliest cut scenes in the game Metal Gear Solid 4 Hal "Otacon" Emmerich cites "classic Werner syndrome" as the most likely cause of Solid Snake's premature aging.

In season 3 episode 9  The Ballad of Kevin and Tess of TV show The 4400 Kevin is said to have Werner's Syndrome to hide his real condition from the public.