MRI brain scans of Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) patients unexpectedly revealed nerve cells in the cerebellum of the brain activated by food cues that promote appetite, a study demonstrated. The findings suggest that the cerebellum may be a potential target for treating obesity in people with PWS. The study, “…
News
A class of medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) may help reduce appetite and promote weight loss for people with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS), according to a review paper. The paper’s authors called for clinical trials to test these medicines in people with PWS. Their paper, “The…
The activity of nine genes located outside the so-called PWS locus — a region containing genes in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) that are lost or have defects — is significantly altered in people with the disease, according to a study in lab-grown nerve cells derived from patients and healthy individuals.
A new study is looking for participants to assess the impact of a behavioral training program for caregivers of children with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). The training program, led by Kasey Bedard, PhD, at the Chicago School of Professional Psychology, will be conducted virtually by Zoom and Qualtrics, according to…
Excessive eating in Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) increases the risk of mortality not only by making patients prone to obesity and its associated health problems, but also by raising the risk of accidents like choking, a new study indicates. “There are the longer-term problems that arise through obesity and the…
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…
Infants and toddlers with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) have significantly lower blood levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 or IGF-1 — indicative of growth hormone (GH) deficiency — than their healthy peers, a small study in Japan shows. This is the first study to conduct this type of comparative analysis…
A multidisciplinary approach that included weight reduction through calorie restriction and diuretics, ventilation support, skin care, and rehabilitation successfully managed life-threatening right heart failure due to severe obesity in a young man with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS). These findings from a case study highlight not only the effectiveness of such a…
During pregnancy, Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) may manifest as an excess of fluid around the developing fetus coupled with restricted fetal growth and decreased fetal movement, a new report indicates. These signs should alert clinicians to consider testing for the possibility of a PWS diagnosis, the researchers wrote. The…
Suicidal thoughts are more frequent in adults with Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) than in the general population and typically begin in mid-teenage years, according to a study using the Global PWS Registry. In contrast, youths with PWS appear to have fewer suicidal thoughts than the general population of children and…
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