Progeria syndrome is the term for a group of disorders that cause rapid aging in children. In Greek, “progeria” means prematurely old. Children with this condition live to an average age of 13 years old.

What is the illness of Benjamin Button?

Progeria is also known as Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) or the “Benjamin Button” disease (named after the short story and movie 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button'). It's a rare genetic condition that results in a child's body aging rapidly.

Can a person age backwards?

New research suggests it is possible to slow or even reverse aging, at least in mice, by undoing changes in gene activity—the same kinds of changes that are caused by decades of life in humans.