Angelman Syndrome: A Genetic Disease

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A genetic disease is a disease that can be heritable or inheritable, and one of them is known as Angelman Syndrome. Also referred to as AS, it can change a person, both physically and mentally. Angelman Syndrome, just like any other genetic disease, has symptoms, or characteristics of the carrier. It has effects on the daily life of the carrier, and can be treated, but not cured. AS also has a certain prognosis, or outcome.
Angelman Syndrome, similar to other genetic diseases, has many symptoms. Symptoms are mental or physical characteristics that determine that a person has a genetic disease or any disease in general. In Angelman Syndrome, one common symptom is that of speech impairment (Roggenback). Another symptom that is usually present is late development, which is when the body takes more time than it is supposed to in order to form an appearance (Roggenback). People with AS may have periodic seizures, as well as Microcephaly, which is when a person has a smaller head than normal (“Angelman Syndrome.” National). They are prone to having balance disorders, which causes unstable and jerky movements (Roggenback). Along with these shaky movements, patients with Angelman Syndrome have hand –flapping movements (“Angelman Syndrome.” The Encyclopedia). The balance disorder is a possible reason for their walking problems.
Although there are many severe symptoms of Angelman Syndrome, there is a few that seem to be more laid back and do not affect the diagnosed patient as much. According to Genetics Home Reference, “Children with Angelman Syndrome typically have a happy, exitable demeanor with frequent smiling, laughter, and hand –flapping movements” (“Angelman Syndrome.” Genetics). Therefore, people with Angelman Syndrome do not alwa...

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...There are many outcomes of what treatments are available depending on what symptoms they have the most severe case of.

Works Cited

“Angelman Syndrome.” The Encyclopedia of Genetic Disorders and Birth Defects. Eds. James Wynbrandt and Mark D. Ludman. New York: Facts on File, 2000. 26 –27. Print.
“Angelman Syndrome.” Genetics Home Reference. U.S. National Library of Medicine. 21 Apr. 2014. Web. 18 Apr. 2014.
“Angelman Syndrome.” National Center for Biotechnology Information. N.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
“NINDS Angelman Syndrome Information Page.” National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS). N.d. Web. 28 Apr. 2014.
Roggenback, Jennifer; Carson –Dewitt, Rosalyn. “Angelman Syndrome.” Gale Encyclopedia of Neurological Disorders. 2005. Encyclopedia.com. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.
“What is Angelman Syndrome?” Angelman Syndrome Foundation. N.d. Web. 29 Apr. 2014.

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