What is progeria? The 19-year-old died due to a disease caused by premature aging

Understand what progeria is and the symptoms of the disease that causes the body to age about eight times faster than normal

Beandri Booysena 19-year-old girl died in Pretoria, South Africa. Beandri He was battling Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome, better known as progeria. Faced with the sad loss, we try to understand what caused the progeria to increase. Understand what this rare condition consists of!

Disease of premature aging

Progeria is a disease that generally limits life expectancy to around 14 years. Studies indicate that people with this syndrome experience an aging process that occurs up to seven times faster than normal. As a result, a 10-year-old child may have similar physical characteristics to a 70-year-old adult. Globally, progeria affects approximately one in 20 million people.

What are the symptoms of progeria?

Although symptoms are not evident at birth, manifestations of the syndrome generally begin to develop after the first year of life. The main characteristics of premature aging include hair loss, decreased subcutaneous fat, osteoarthritis, short stature and marked thinness, thin and wrinkled skin, delayed puberty, voice changes and osteoporosis. It is important to underline that progeria does not affect the cognitive development of sufferers.

Progeria has no cure

The origin of the syndrome is linked to a point mutation in one of the two copies of the LMNA gene, responsible for the production of a protein essential for cellular structure. To date, there is no known curative treatment for this condition.

Recently, Brazil recorded a notable case of twins Elis AND Eloáwho was diagnosed with progeria in 2023, which may have been the first global record of twins affected by the disease. Despite the difficulties imposed by his condition, Beandri He didn’t let it define his life.

Through his digital platforms, he has shared motivational messages that have gained large audiences around the world. Her strength and optimism have become a beacon of hope for many people of different ages and backgrounds.

In the last months of his life, Beandri they had to face new health challenges. She weighed just 12 kilos and underwent successful open heart surgery. In this difficult time, his hope was to celebrate Christmas with his parents.

The mother’s outburst

The mother of Beandri, Beaannounced his death via Facebook, expressing gratitude to his followers for the support and affection he received: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Beandri, one of South Africa’s most beloved and inspiring young women, who always radiated hope and joy.”.

In one of his most touching reflections, Beandri shared his source of strength for facing adversity: “I face whatever God throws at me and I thank my family for my strength and support. They raised me as a ‘normal’ child, not as someone who should be seen as different from others.”.

The digital content creator had significant aspirations; She dreamed of getting married and pursuing a career as a teacher, dedicating herself to helping others in the same way she inspired so many through her journey.

Source: Terra

Ashley

Ashley Fitzgerald is a journalist and author at Gossipify, known for her coverage of famous people and their lives. She writes about a wide range of topics, including celebrities, influencers, social media stars, and public figures. Her articles are known for their in-depth analysis and unique perspective. She is respected for her ability to keep readers up to date with the latest news and trends of the famous people.