July is National Fragile X Awareness Month. As we head into the last full week of this month, we dedicate this post to educating readers about Fragile X Syndrome.

According to the National Fragile X Foundation:

  • Fragile X is a group of genetic disorders caused by a mutation in a single gene on the X chromosome.
  • Fragile X syndrome is the most common inherited cause of intellectual disability and autism and can range from mild to profound impairment.
  • Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome(FXTAS), a nervous system disorder that causes tremors, ambulatory difficulties, and trouble with balance, memory, and behaviors especially among older males.

Although Fragile X Syndrome can be extremely debilitating, the outlook for people with Fragile X and their families has become a good deal brighter since the completion of the Human Genome Project in 2003.

According to a 2016 N.Y. Times article by Gardiner Harris, back in the 1980s, scientists were aware of only a “handful” of genetic diseases. Yet, in the years since the Human Genome Project, they have identified “roughly 5,800” genetic diseases. In response to their discoveries, thousands of charities have been established with the goals of researching and curing these diseases. Many of these charities were founded by parents and family members of affected children.

Read the full article at Enabling Devices