Aging in Reverse: The Devastating Consequences of Sanfilippo Syndrome

Abstract

Everyone is familiar with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Many have a loved one who suffers from the disease. It is unlikely though that you have met a child who suffers from the same symptoms that progress even faster. Sanfilippo syndrome is deemed a rare disease with less than 5,000 current cases in the United States [1]. As opposed to adults who can live for years without symptoms of Alzheimer’s, Sanfilippo creeps in on vulnerable children and snatches their innocence only to realize it once it is too late. Sanfilippo syndrome is an extremely rare, genetic, metabolic disorder that mimics the brain damage found in patients with dementia or Alzheimer’s disease but in children; this article will examine the genetic causes, symptoms, and new, cutting-edge treatments.