14 DAY TRIAL // When he was born, Franco Villavicencio from Moreno, Argentina, looked just like any other baby boy. During his first year of life, however, his health began to deteriorate, seemingly for no reason.
His parents had medical experts examine him and were told that the boy was suffering from a rare disease that was causing his body to age at an accelerated pace.
This disease, named progeria, is the reason Franco Villavicencio, now 4 years old, looks nothing like a young child. Instead, his body is that of an old man.
According to the doctors looking after him, the boy's body is aging about 8 times faster than normal. This means that, when he turns 10, his body will that of an 80-year-old.
There is no cure for the 4-year-old's condition
Studies have shown that progeria is caused by a rogue protein called progerin. This mutant protein is the underlying cause of the rapid aging process 4-year-old Franco Villavicencio is now experiencing.
The disease, which was the inspiration for “The Curious Case of Benjamin Buttonl,” is incredibly rare. In fact, scientists are currently aware of just 74 cases of people diagnosed with the condition on a global scale, DM informs.
For the time being, there is no treatment or cure for this rare aging disease. The best medical experts can do is try to alleviate the symptoms that come with it.
Since the condition boils down to rapid aging, these symptoms include hair loss, skin aging, arthritis, heart trouble, and other health issues that usually occur in elderly men and women.
Of the children diagnosed with progeria, the majority die when about 13 years old either of heart failure or after having suffered a stroke. Just one progeria sufferer, Hayley Okines of Bexhill, UK, lived to reach the age of 17.
It's only Franco's body that is aging at a rapid pace
Although his body is aging 8 times faster than normal, Franco Villavicencio's mind is that of a 4-year-old. Thus, the boy spends most of his days playing with his brothers and sisters, and watching cartoons.
As his body gets older, his mind will remain that of a child. Since his condition cannot be cured, the best his parents can do is help him enjoy his childhood while his body is not yet too old and too frail for him to be able to keep playing.
