Taelor's House Foundation
What is PWS?
What is Prader-Willi Syndrome?
PWS is a complex, non-hereditary birth defect resulting from an abnormality/deletion of the 15th chromosome.
PWS was first described by Swiss doctors Andrea Prader & Heinrich Willi.
PWS occurs once in every 15,000 births.
There is no cure for PWS.
Symptons include poor muscle tone, cognitive impairment and obsessive/compulsive behaviors. The most devastating symptom of PWS is an insatiable apetite ... a chronic feeling of hunger. This coupled with a metabolism that utilizes drastically fewer calories than normal can lead to excessive eating and life threatening obesity. This food compulsion makes constant supervision necessary.
PWS has a profound impact on family life.
PWSA (Prader-Willi Syndrome Association) is an organization of families and professionals working together to promote and fund research, provide education, and offer support to enhance the quality of life of those affected by Prader-Willi syndrome and their families. Please visit www.pwsausa.org for more information and resources on Prader-Willi Syndrome.
