Progeria: Causes, Symptoms, and Treatment
Medically reviewed by Harsha Moole, MD, Internal Medicine. Last reviewed: October 23, 2026.
What kind of doctor treats Progeria?
A pediatric geneticist (a doctor who treats inherited conditions in children) and a pediatrician (a children's doctor) usually lead care for progeria. A pediatric cardiologist (a children's heart doctor) often helps too. A direct primary care or concierge doctor can be a first stop for an evaluation and can refer you to a specialist when needed.
What is progeria?
Progeria is a rare genetic condition that produces rapid aging in children. It is also called Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, or HGPS. Affected children typically look normal at birth and in early infancy. Then they grow more slowly than other children and do not gain weight at the expected rate.
This condition is very rare. It is reported to occur in 1 in 4 million newborns worldwide. About 400 children worldwide had been diagnosed with progeria as of 2020. Progeria does not affect intellectual development, which means thinking and learning. It also does not affect motor skills such as sitting, standing, and walking.
Symptoms
Signs of progeria include:
- Slow growth, starting during the first year of life.
- A narrow, shrunken, or wrinkled face.
- Prominent eyes, a thin nose with a beaked tip, thin lips, a small chin, and protruding ears.
- Hair loss, called alopecia.
- Loss of eyebrows and eyelashes.
- Dry, scaly, thin skin.
- Loss of fat under the skin.
- A small jaw.
- Teeth that form late or not at all.
- Limited range of motion, which means joints that do not move as far as they should.
Progeria also causes severe hardening of the arteries, the blood vessels that carry blood from the heart, beginning in childhood. This greatly increases the chance of a heart attack or stroke at a young age. These complications can worsen over time and are life-threatening.
Causes and who gets it
Changes, called mutations, in a gene named LMNA cause progeria. The LMNA gene gives the body instructions for making a protein called lamin A. The changes lead to an abnormal version of the lamin A protein. The altered protein makes the outer wall of the cell's nucleus, its control center, unstable and damages the nucleus over time. This makes cells more likely to die too early.
In most cases, progeria is not passed down through families. It almost always occurs in people with no history of the disorder in their family. It results from new mutations in the LMNA gene. One changed copy of the gene in each cell is enough to cause the condition.
How doctors diagnose it
A health care provider will do a physical exam and order lab tests. Genetic testing can find the changes in the LMNA gene that cause progeria. A heart stress test may show early signs of atherosclerosis, a problem of the blood vessels.
Treatment
In November 2020, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first treatment for progeria. Doctors may also use aspirin and statin medicines to help protect against a heart attack or stroke. Ask your child's specialist whether the approved treatment is right for your child.
When to see a doctor
Contact your child's doctor if your child does not appear to be growing or developing normally. Progeria raises the chance of a heart attack or stroke at a young age. Call 911 or go to the emergency room if your child has chest pain or discomfort lasting two minutes or more, fainting, trouble breathing, or sudden weakness, dizziness, or a change in vision.
How a direct primary care or concierge doctor fits in
A direct primary care doctor charges a flat monthly fee instead of billing insurance, while a concierge doctor usually charges more and often works alongside insurance. Either kind of doctor can keep track of your child's growth, help coordinate visits with heart and genetic specialists, and support long-term follow-up.
Common questions
Is progeria passed down from parents?
Usually not, because most cases are not passed down through families. Progeria almost always occurs in people with no history of the disorder in their family. It results from new mutations in the LMNA gene.
Does progeria affect intelligence?
No, progeria does not affect intellectual development. It also does not affect motor skills such as sitting, standing, and walking.
How common is progeria?
Progeria is very rare. It is reported to occur in 1 in 4 million newborns worldwide.
How long do people with progeria live?
Progeria shortens life. People with the condition most often live only to their teenage years, with an average lifespan of 14 years. However, some can live into their early 20s. The cause of death is very often related to the heart or a stroke.
Is there a treatment for progeria?
Yes, the FDA approved the first treatment for progeria in November 2020. Doctors may also use aspirin and statin medicines to help protect against a heart attack or stroke.
Sources
- MedlinePlus Genetics - Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome
- MedlinePlus - Progeria
- National Institutes of Health - Decades of NIH research help lead to first FDA-approved treatment for progeria
Medical Disclaimer
This content is for general educational and informational purposes only and is not medical advice. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, and reading it does not create a doctor-patient relationship. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified health provider with any questions about a medical condition, and never disregard or delay seeking professional advice because of something you read here. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately.
