Williams Syndrome Information

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Williams Syndrome is a rare neurological disease that is caused by the long arm of chromosome 7 missing a total of 26 genes. The condition is rare and what causes the chromosome to have the absence of the genes is unknown. Because there are so many genes missing however, the symptoms and effects of Williams Syndrome are extremely varied, and affect many different parts of the body.

Characteristics of Williams Syndrome

One of the first ways to tell that Williams Syndrome is present is by simply looking at the face of the patient. Patients with Williams Syndrome usually have a very low nasal bridge and because of the affected genes, have a very unusual facial appearance. Having widely spaced teeth is another physical characteristic of the disease.

However, there are other signs and particular characteristics that appear with Williams Syndrome. One of those is the mental retardation that is obviously present in patients who are diagnosed with the syndrome. People suffering from Williams Syndrome are known to be extremely friendly and congenial, but there is an obvious lack of common sense present.

Other than the unusual facial features and mental retardation, there are other symptoms associated with Williams Syndrome. One of those is respiratory problems as well as cardiovascular problems. Heart murmurs are very common in people with Williams Syndrome.

There is currently no cure for Williams Syndrome but some measures, such as reducing the intake of Vitamin D, can be taken for treatment. Because the symptoms and experiences of people with Williams Syndrome is so varied, treatment options are as well.

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Williams Syndrome Symptoms

Filed under: Williams Syndrome - 27 Jul 2010  | Spread the word !

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Williams syndrome affects the way you interact with your environment. It is a disease characterized by a lack of a critical portion of the genes within chromosome 7. It is sometimes very easy to diagnose as the symptoms of the disease are very prominent, but in some rare cases the mental retardation associated with Williams syndrome doesn’t rear its head until later stages in life. You can generally tell when someone has Williams syndrome as their facial features will be abnormal and are often considered grotesque. The facial features of someone with Williams syndrome are generally described as elf like, which may seem harsh. The syndrome causes it to look like the person’s face is pulled back towards their ears in an uncomfortable fashion.

Other common symptoms of the disease are things like heart defects and mental retardation. Heart defects are normally apparent within the first few weeks of birth. Things like mental retardation can be tough to recognize until the later stages of development. It is also known that most people with Williams syndrome are very social. They often find it difficult to control themselves in social situations with how much they talk and converse. The disease is sometimes jokingly referred to as “cocktail party syndrome” as people that have it are generally very active and chatty. Lastly, Williams syndrome can also cause problems with visual understanding. Depth perception isn’t a problem for people with the disease, but rather they find it tough to process all the information in a spatial scene all at once.

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