The girl who doesn't grow is back in the headlines. Little Brooke Greenberg looks like a typical toddler. The only difference is that this toddler is 20 years old. Greenberg has an extremely rare condition that has caused her to stop growing and developing. According to a Jan. 16, 2013 report by Yahoo! News, geneticists are researching Greenberg's genetic code in an attempt to help others.
Doctors have dubbed her condition "Syndrome X." Greenberg's doctors don't know what caused her condition, but there is no treatment and no cure. The 20-year-old girl who doesn't grow will remain trapped in the body of a child with the mind of a toddler for as long as she lives.
Despite her doctors' inability to help her, geneticists feel that sequencing Greenberg's genome could someday lead to new treatments for disorders like Parkinson's disease and other age-related conditions. However, it is important to note that researchers are a very long way from developing any sort of treatments based on her genetic makeup. For now, an effective treatment for Parkinson's disease or other age-related disorders based on this research remains out of reach.
The girl who doesn't grow has been dubbed the 20-year-old toddler. She may seem helpless in her tiny body, but it is possible that her condition may hold the key to helping others. Greenberg's recent appearance on "Katie" has aroused renewed public interest in her life.
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