Angelman Syndrome Foundation - Sacramento

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a rare neuro-genetic disorder that occurs in one in 15,000 live births or 500,000 people worldwide.  It is caused by a loss of function of the UBE3A gene in the 15th chromosome derived from the mother.

Angelman syndrome shares symptoms and characteristics with other disorders including autism, cerebral palsy and Prader-Willi syndrome.  Due to the common characteristics, misdiagnosis occurs often.

People with Angelman syndrome have developmental problems that become noticeable by the age of 6 – 12 months. Other common signs and symptoms usually appear in early childhood like walking and balance disorders, gastrointestinal issues, seizures and little to no speech.  Despite these symptoms, people with Angelman syndrome have an overall happy and excitable demeanor.  An individual with AS will light up a room with their smile and laughter.

It is believed that there is a high chance of finding a cure for Angelman syndrome, due to the fact that scientists know what causes AS and have been able to reverse it in mouse models.  Find out more about Causes and Types of Angelman syndrome as well as exciting updates on our clinical trials and research towards a cure at www.angelman.org