SIENA’S BIRTHDAY COUNTDOWN | What is PWS?

Wow. I didn’t quite realize how emotional I would be counting down the days to Siena’s 11th Birthday and the 10th anniversary of Siena’s Prader-Willi Syndrome diagnosis, but here I am… a puddle of tears. Andrew Schoenberger has made a lot of videos for the girls and I thought today I would share Siena’s First Year compilation.

When we first heard the words “Prader-Willi Syndrome” we had no clue what anyone was talking about, and so please know that we completely understand if you have never heard of it either.

Thank you to the The Foundation for Prader-Willi Research for being an amazing resource and offering the following info:

What is Prader-Willi syndrome?Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a genetic disorder that occurs in approximately one out of every 15,000 births. PWS affects males and females with equal frequency and affects all races and ethnicities. PWS is recognized as the most common genetic cause of life-threatening childhood obesity.

PWS was first described by Swiss doctors Andrea Prader, Alexis Labhart, and Heinrich Willi in 1956 based on the clinical characteristics of nine children they examined. The common characteristics defined in the initial report included small hands and feet, abnormal growth and body composition (small stature, very low lean body mass, and early-onset childhood obesity), hypotonia (weak muscles) at birth, insatiable hunger, extreme obesity, and intellectual disability.PWS results from an abnormality of chromosome 15, and definitive diagnosis is now based on genetic testing.

The symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome are likely due to dysfunction of a portion of the brain called the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus is a small endocrine organ at the base of the brain that plays a crucial role in many bodily functions, including regulating hunger and satiety, body temperature, pain, sleep-wake balance, fluid balance, emotions, and fertility. Although hypothalamic dysfunction is believed to lead to the symptoms of PWS, it is not yet clear how the genetic abnormality causes hypothalamic dysfunction.

The symptoms of PWS change over time in individuals with PWS, and a detailed understanding of the nutritional stages of PWS has been published. Overall, there are two general stages of the symptoms associated with PWS:

Early Life

Infants with PWS are hypotonic or “floppy”, with very low muscle tone. A weak cry and a poor suck reflex are typical. Babies with PWS usually are unable to breastfeed and frequently require tube feeding. These infants may suffer from “failure to thrive” if feeding difficulties are not carefully monitored and treated. As these babies grow older, strength and muscle tone generally improve. Motor milestones are achieved, but are usually delayed. Toddlers typically enter a period where they may begin to gain weight easily, prior to having a heightened interest in food.The symptoms change over time in individuals with PWS.

Childhood and Beyond

An unregulated appetite and easy weight gain characterize the later stages of PWS. These features most commonly begin between ages 3 and 8 years old, but are variable in onset and intensity. Individuals with PWS lack normal hunger and satiety cues. They usually are not able to control their food intake and will overeat if not closely monitored. Food seeking behaviors are very common. In addition, the metabolic rate of persons with PWS is lower than normal. Left untreated, this combination of problems leads to morbid obesity and its many complications.In addition to obesity, a variety of other symptoms can be associated with Prader-Willi syndrome. Individuals usually exhibit cognitive challenges, with measured IQs ranging from low normal to moderate intellectual disability. Those with normal IQs usually exhibit learning disabilities. Other issues may include growth hormone deficiency/short stature, small hands and feet, scoliosis, sleep disturbances with excessive daytime sleepiness, high pain threshold, speech apraxia/dyspraxia, and infertility. Behavioral difficulties may include obsessive-compulsive symptoms, skin picking, and difficulty controlling emotions. Adults with PWS are at increased risk for mental illness. PWS is a spectrum disorder and symptoms vary in severity and occurrence among individuals.

What causes Prader-Willi syndrome? For those of you who love science, and want MORE you can visit this link https://www.fpwr.org/about-prader-willi-syndrome#causes