Margarida Maia, PhD,  science writer—

A one-time delivery of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene into a brain region called the hypothalamus improved metabolism in mice showing some symptoms of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), according to a new study. The gene therapy improvements translated into less weight gain and a healthier body composition, which suggests…

Half of people with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) treated with the antipsychotic aripiprazole in a small German study experienced fewer temper outbursts, but daytime sleepiness was a common side effect. The medication did not cause an increase in weight, however, which is a plus considering that people with PWS typically…

Cells of adipose tissue, or body fat, may go awry long before weight gain takes off in children with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS), according to a new study — and a missing cluster of genes called SNORD116 may be the reason why. The findings add information about what’s behind the…

There may be changes to how the “feel-good” hormone oxytocin works in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) in general, and in those with psychosis, according to findings from a small study in Germany. Researchers found that OXTR, the gene that codes for the oxytocin receptor, is not as methylated in…

People with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) who had COVID-19 experienced either no symptoms or only mild illness due to the infection, an international survey study found. These findings were unexpected, as researchers had put forward the hypothesis that the presence of other conditions typically coexisting with PWS would make symptoms…

Two boys with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) developed respiratory failure — a condition in which the oxygen level in the blood becomes too low — after surgery to correct scoliosis (a sideways curvature of the spine), a report says. “Even after scoliosis surgery, ‘periodic’ monitoring of respiratory failure with an…

Subtle heart changes in people with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) may begin relatively early in adulthood, and being overweight may be related to these cardiovascular abnormalities, a small study reported. “We need to manage obesity and obesity-related disorders in order to prevent heart failure and ischemic heart disease [reduced blood…

Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is associated with a specific molecular signature — a set of genes that can be used as markers for a certain trait — in the brain that is linked to episodes of psychosis, or a loss of contact with reality, a mouse study found. According to…

Specific epigenetic modifications — chemical marks added to DNA that affect the way genes work — are found in people with Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS), and may affect how the disease manifests, a small study reported. These findings may help in understanding how genes contribute to the disease and open…

Twice daily supplementation with a probiotic may help reduce body mass index (BMI), a measure of body fat, in patients with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), a clinical trial in China has found. The probiotic — Limosilactobacillus reuteri LR-99 — also improved social communication and interaction, fine motor skills, and overall development…