Rett syndrome is a rare inherited disease that causes developmental and nervous system problems, mostly in girls. It's related to autism. Babies with Rett syndrome seem to grow and develop normally at first. Between 3 months and 3 years of age, though, they stop developing and even lose some skills. Symptoms include
- Loss of speech
- Loss of hand movements such as grasping
- Compulsive movements such as hand wringing
- Balance problems
- Breathing problems
- Behavior problems
- Learning problems or mental retardation
Rett syndrome has no cure. You can treat some of the symptoms with medicines, surgery, and physical and speech therapy. Most people with Rett syndrome live into middle age and beyond. They will usually need care throughout their lives.
National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
- Genetics Home Reference: Rett syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=rettsyndrome
- Rett Syndrome(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/health/topics/rett_syndrome.cfm
- Rett Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - Short Summary - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/rett/rett.htm
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Rett Syndrome(National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke) - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/rett/detail_rett.htm
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/trastornos/el_sindrome_de_rett.htm
- What is Rett Syndrome?(Rett Syndrome Research Foundation) - http://www.rsrf.org/parent_resources/9.2.html
- Rett Syndrome: Symptoms and Diagnosis(Rett Syndrome Research Foundation) - http://www.rsrf.org/about_rett_syndrome/2.3.html
- Rett Syndrome: Symptoms/Findings/Clinical Course(We Move) - http://www.wemove.org/rett/rett_sym.html
- Rett Syndrome: Treatment(We Move) - http://www.wemove.org/rett/rett_tre.html
- Therapies and Education in Rett Syndrome(Rett Syndrome Research Foundation) - http://www.rsrf.org/parent_resources/9.6.html
- ClinicalTrials.gov: Rett Syndrome(National Institutes of Health) - http://clinicaltrials.gov/search/open/condition=%22Rett+Syndrome%22
- Genetics Home Reference: Rett syndrome(National Library of Medicine) - http://ghr.nlm.nih.gov/condition=rettsyndrome
- Genetics of Rett Syndrome(Rett Syndrome Research Foundation) - http://www.rsrf.org/parent_resources/9.4.html
- Research on Other Women's Health Conditions: Rett Syndrome(National Institute of Child Health and Human Development) - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/womenshealth/research/disorders/other.cfm
- Article: Gene symbol: MECP2. Disease: Rett syndrome. - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18846663&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: Analysis of highly conserved regions of the 3'UTR of MECP2... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18688080&tool=MedlinePlus
- Article: A 3 Mb deletion in 14q12 causes severe mental retardation,... - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=Retrieve&db=pubmed&dopt=AbstractPlus&list_uids=18627055&tool=MedlinePlus
- Rett Syndrome -- see more articles - http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?cmd=search&db=pubmed&term=rett+syndrome[majr]+AND+english[la]+AND+humans[mh]+NOT+(letter[pt]+OR+editorial[pt])&doptcmdl=summary&cmd_current=Limits&pmfilter_EDatLimit=last+1+Year&tool=MedlinePlus
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/
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National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke - http://www.ninds.nih.gov/
Also available in Spanish http://espanol.ninds.nih.gov/
- Rett Syndrome Research Foundation - http://www.rsrf.org/
- Autism - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/autism.html
- Degenerative Nerve Diseases - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/degenerativenervediseases.html
- Developmental Disabilities - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/developmentaldisabilities.html
- Brain and Nerves - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/brainandnerves.html
- Genetics/Birth Defects - http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/geneticsbirthdefects.html
The primary NIH organization for research on Rett Syndrome is the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - http://www.nichd.nih.gov/