Early-aging disorder claims life of young, beloved social media star Adalia Rose
Fox News
Although many hope to discover the fountain of youth, there’s actually a gene that does the opposite, as social media sensation Adalia Rose Williams shared with the world through her rare genetic disorder that accelerates the appearance of aging, according to her Instagram page, which noted she died recently at age 15.
She was diagnosed around three months old with Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome, which is a very rare genetic disease that causes children, who appear normal at birth, to rapidly look older starting in the first two years of life, according to the Mayo Clinic. Approximately 400 children in the world live with progeria at any one time, according to The National Organization of Rare Disorders, with an average life span of 13 years, although some live up to 20 years.
The disease is caused by a single gene mutation, which makes cells unstable, leading to the aging process, but unlike other genetic mutations, it’s rarely inherited, with the mutation a chance occurrence in the majority of cases, per Mayo Clinic.
Rose posted her first video, singing "Jesus Loves Me" nine years ago, and amassed more than 15 million followers between Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube, sharing her bright personality together with makeup tips, her life, and family with the world, according to NBC News.