Premature Aging Syndromes (Progeroid Syndromes)

Over time, our bodies naturally age. However, premature aging occurs earlier in the life than normal aging. Certain hereditary disorders such as progeroid syndromes represent common signs of premature aging (wrinkles, age spots, skin dryness, scleroderma-like skin changes or graying hairs) in addition to characteristic facial features, abnormal dentition, developmental defects (short stature, poor weight gain) and sometimes with conductive hearing loss, hypogonadism, cataract, osteoporosis and diabetes mellitus.The most important ones are Progeria, which appears at infancy, and Werner syndrome that begins in 2nd – 4th decade. Death due to complications of severe atherosclerosis, either cardiac disease (myocardial infarction or heart failure) or cerebrovascular disease (stroke).