Iqra Mumal, MSc,  —

Children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) secrete less saliva and more acidic saliva than do their healthy peers. These changes put them at a higher risk of tooth decay (caries) and oral disorders like gingivitis (inflammation of gums), a study reported. Good dental care should be an “essential part” of…

Children and young adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have a higher prevalence of psychiatric symptoms than their peers with other genetic disorders associated with intellectual disability (ID), a study shows. The study, “Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis: Mental Health in Children With Neurogenetic Disorders Associated With Intellectual Disability,” was…

Loss of a region on chromosome 15 that involves the SNORD116 gene leads to the development of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS)-like disease, suggesting that missing the gene is enough to cause the key characteristics of PWS, according to a case study. The study, “Prader–Willi-Like Phenotype Caused by…

Livoletide, a potential therapy to curb excessive eating among people with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), is being tested in a global Phase 2b/3 clinical trial called ZEPHYR. Although recruitment of participants ages 8-65 has been completed, enrollment of children ages 4-7 is still ongoing. To date, 4 children…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted fast track designation to LV-101 (intranasal carbetocin), a treatment candidate for people with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). This designation is granted to promising therapies intended to treat serious diseases with unmet medical needs. It aims to quicken treatment development by…

Children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have high levels of a protein called LIGHT/TNFSF14, which may contribute to obesity and low bone mineral density (BMD), a study suggests. The research, “High levels of LIGHT/TNFSF14 in Prader-Willi syndrome,” was presented at the European Society of Pediatric Endocrinology 2019 meeting in…

Daily consumption of a common probiotic significantly lowered the percentage of abdominal fat, improved insulin resistance, and reduced social withdrawal in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome, a study has found. The research, “Effects of Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis on children with Prader-Willi syndrome: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial,”…

Supervised exercise sessions at home are an effective strategy to improve the levels of physical activity and walking capacity among women with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a new study suggests. The research, “Increasing physical activity in adult women with Prader–Willi syndrome: A transferability study,” was published in the Journal…

With careful multidisciplinary evaluation and psychosocial support, adolescents with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) with severe obesity can undergo bariatric surgery with successful results, a case report suggests. The study, “Laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy in an adolescent with Prader-Willi syndrome: psychosocial implications,” was published in the journal Nutrition. PWS is the most…

Patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) who develop significant obstructive sleep apnea and malocclusion can be successfully treated using surgical methods, according to a case report. The case study, “Orthognathic Correction in Prader-Willi Syndrome: Occlusion and Sleep Restored,” was published in The Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Journal. Prader-Willi children…