Syndromes of premature aging.

The classic premature aging syndromes are rare disorders, all of which clinically differ a great deal from the normal aging process. None is well understood at the biochemical level, and no specific treatment exists for any of these syndromes. Genetic counseling, preventive measures in some instances, and symptomatic treatment are available. The interest of gerontologists and geriatricians in these disorders derives in part from the expectation that such presumed single-gene mutations might contribute to our understanding of the molecular basis for normal aging. Unfortunately, to date, this expectation has not been realized.