October: Rett Syndrome awareness month


Rett Syndrome is a developmental disorder affecting primarily infant females, join
our charity of the month in raising awareness!

What is Rett Syndrome?

Rett Syndrome is a developmental disorder that affects primarily female infants in the first 6 to 18 months of life. It is caused by a mutation of the X chromosome that causes the disruption of a specific gene. These internal changes cause a loss in communication and motor skills that often the result of frequent seizures. Dr. Andreas Rett first discovered the disorder in 1954 in Vienne, Austria when he encountered a pair of female infants with motor skill issues that caused them to do a “hand-washing” movement. He made a video of the infants, and traveled around Europe looking for similar cases ultimately publishing his findings in German medical journals, giving the medical community a formal diagnosis.

Awareness Month

Today about 1 in every 10,000 females are born with the disorder, and treatments vary from daily medications to physical therapy. Many focus on assisting the patient in having the best quality of life, but there is no known cure to help reverse the genetic damage. Do your part to raise awareness, and help provide funds for research and better treatment methods.

See what some organizations are doing to support Rett Syndrome research on FirstGiving

Photo Courtesy of Rett Syndrome