Clemastine Treatment in Individuals With Williams Syndrome
Williams SyndromeThis study explores the neurobiological etiology of Williams syndrome and potential therapeutic targets for associated social, motor, and cognitive abnormalities. The main translational objective will be to test the effectiveness of Clemasntine on neurocognitive and other associated abnormalities in individuals with Williams syndrome.
Parent-Infant Inter(X)Action Intervention (PIXI)
Fragile X SyndromeAngelman Syndrome12 moreThe objective is to develop and test, through an iterative process, an intervention to address and support the development of infants with a confirmed diagnosis of neurogenetic disorders that leave individuals at risk for developmental delays or intellectual and developmental disabilities. The proposed project will capitalize and expand upon existing empirically based interventions designed to improve outcomes for infants with suspected developmental delays. Participants will be infants with a confirmed diagnosis of a neurogenetic disorder (e.g., fragile X, Angelman, Prader-Willi, Dup15q, Phelan-McDermid, Rhett, Smith Magenis, Williams, Turner, Kleinfelter, Down syndromes, Duchenne muscular dystrophy) within the first year of life and their parents/caregivers. The intervention, called Parent-infant Inter(X)action Intervention (PIXI) is a comprehensive program inclusive of parent education about early infant development and the neurogenetic disorder for which they were diagnosed, direct parent coaching around parent-child interaction, and family/parent well-being support. The protocol includes repeated comprehensive assessments of family and child functioning, along with an examination of feasibility and acceptability of the program.
The Psychiatric and Cognitive Phenotypes in Velocardiofacial Syndrome
Velocardiofacial SyndromeWilliams Syndrome1 moreThe purpose of this study is to investigate the Psychiatric and Cognitive Phenotypes in Velocardiofacial Syndrome (VCFS), Williams Syndrome (WS)and Fragile X Syndrome Characterization, Treatment and Examining the Connection to Developmental and Molecular Factors
Defining the Brain Phenotype of Children With Williams Syndrome
Williams SyndromeDuplicationBackground: - Little is known about how the brain changes during childhood and adolescence, how genes affect this process, or how the brains of people with 7q11.23 genetic variation change during this period. Researchers are interested in using magnetic resonance imaging to study how the brain changes in healthy children and children with 7q11.23 genetic variation, including Williams syndrome and 7q11.23 duplication syndrome. Objectives: - To study developmental changes in the brains of healthy children and children who have been diagnosed with Williams syndrome,7q11.23 duplication syndrome, or other 7q11.23 genetic variation. Eligibility: Healthy children and adolescents between 5 and 17 years of age. Children and adolescents between 5 and 17 years of age who have been diagnosed with Williams syndrome, 7q11.23 duplication syndrome, or have other 7q11.23 genetic variation. Design: Participants will have a brief physical examination and tests of memory, attention, concentration, and thinking. Parents will be asked about their child s personality, behavior characteristics, and social interaction and communication skills. Both participants and their parents may be asked to complete additional questionnaires or take various tests as required for the study. Participants will have approximately 10 hours of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanning, usually over 4 to 5 days, within a one month period. Some of these tests will require the participants to do specific tasks while inside the MRI scanner. Participants will be asked to return to the National Institutes of Health clinical center to repeat these procedures every 2 years thereafter until age 18.
Williams Syndrome (WS) and Supravalvular Aortic Stenosis (SVAS) DNA and Tissue Bank
Williams SyndromeSupravalvular Aortic Stenosis1 moreBackground: DNA tells the body how to grow and function. Williams-Beuren syndrome (WS) and Supravalvular Aortic Stenosis (SVAS) are rare diseases caused by changes in a part of a person s DNA. Symptoms of both conditions include vascular problems including narrow blood vessels and supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) or supravalvular pulmonary stenosis. Individuals with WS may also have developmental challenges and personality differences. Researchers at the NIH want to find out why only some people with WS and SVAS have severe symptoms. They want to collect samples and data to see what DNA or environmental changes affect the severity of the disease. Objective: To identify the DNA differences or environmental changes that change the severity of WS and SVAS from person to person. Eligibility: People ages 0-85 with either WS, SVAS, and/or an SVAS-like condition Children and people with WS must have a parent or legal guardian to consent or help answer questions. Design: Participants will be screened with questions and medical history. Participants will have a 60-minute visit. They will provide blood or saliva samples. They or their parent/guardian will: Answer questions about how WS and SVAS affect them. Sign a form releasing their medical records for the study. If participant s regular doctor recommends surgery, researchers will ask the surgeon for skin or tissue samples that they might otherwise discard. These will be used to create stem cells to study in a lab. For up to 20 years, participants will have annual questionnaires by phone, email, or mail about their WS or SVAS. Participants may also be contacted if: They need to provide a new blood or saliva sample. Researchers need any other data. There is a follow-up study.
Impact of Elastin Mediated Vascular Stiffness on End Organs
Williams SyndromeSupravalvular Aortic Stenosis1 moreBackground: People with Williams Syndrome (WS) and supravalvular aortic stenosis (SVAS) have less elasticity in their blood vessels. This is called blood vessel stiffness. Blood vessels may have focal narrowings called stenoses or may just be globally more narrow. Objectives: Researchers want to see how blood vessel differences in people with Williams Syndrome and supravalvular aortic stenosis affect organs in the body including the heart, gut, kidneys, and brain. Eligibility: People ages 3-85 who have WS or SVAS Healthy volunteers ages 3-85 Design: Participants will have yearly visits for up to 10 years. All participants will be offered the same tests. Participants will give consent for the study team to review their medical records. If the participant is a child or an adult with WS, a parent or guardian will give the consent. Participants will visit the NIH where they will have a physical exam and medical history. Based on their health history, participants will undergo a series of imaging tests and measures of blood vessel function over the course of 2-4 days. Tests of cognitive abilites will also be performed. Blood will be drawn and an IV may be placed for specific tests.
Rare Disease Patient Registry & Natural History Study - Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford...
Rare DisordersUndiagnosed Disorders316 moreCoRDS, or the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford, is based at Sanford Research in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It provides researchers with a centralized, international patient registry for all rare diseases. This program allows patients and researchers to connect as easily as possible to help advance treatments and cures for rare diseases. The CoRDS team works with patient advocacy groups, individuals and researchers to help in the advancement of research in over 7,000 rare diseases. The registry is free for patients to enroll and researchers to access. Visit sanfordresearch.org/CoRDS to enroll.
GROWing Up With Rare GENEtic Syndromes
Prader-Willi SyndromePWS-like Syndrome32 moreIntroduction Rare complex syndromes Patients with complex genetic syndromes, by definition, have combined medical problems affecting multiple organ systems, and intellectual disability is often part of the syndrome. During childhood, patients with rare genetic syndromes receive multidisciplinary and specialized medical care; they usually receive medical care from 3-4 medical specialists. Increased life expectancy Although many genetic syndromes used to cause premature death, improvement of medical care has improved life expectancy. More and more patients are now reaching adult age, and the complexity of the syndrome persists into adulthood. However, until recently, multidisciplinary care was not available for adults with rare genetic syndromes. Ideally, active and well-coordinated health management is provided to prevent, detect, and treat comorbidities that are part of the syndrome. However, after transition from pediatric to adult medical care, patients and their parents often report fragmented poor quality care instead of adequate and integrated health management. Therefore, pediatricians express the urgent need for adequate, multidisciplinary adult follow up of their pediatric patients with rare genetic syndromes. Medical guidelines for adults not exist and the literature on health problems in these adults is scarce. Although there is a clear explanation for the absence of adult guidelines (i.e. the fact that in the past patients with rare genetic syndromes often died before reaching adult age), there is an urgent need for an overview of medical issues at adult age, for 'best practice' and, if possible, for medical guidelines. The aim of this study is to get an overview of medical needs of adults with rare genetic syndromes, including: comorbidities medical and their impact on quality of life medication use the need for adaption of medication dose according to each syndrome Methods and Results This is a retrospective file study. Analysis will be performed using SPSS version 23 and R version 3.6.0.
Motor Deficits and Signal Conduction in Individuals With Williams Syndrome
Williams SyndromeThe current study aims to validate basic research findings of abnormal conductivity and motor abilities from a mouse model in humans. The study will measure nerve conduction properties in WS individuals and characterize motor symptoms in individuals with WS.
Buspirone Treatment of Anxiety in Williams Syndrome
Williams SyndromeAnxietyThe purpose of this study is to do a preliminary assessment of whether buspirone is effective, safe, and tolerable in the treatment of anxiety in children, adolescents, and adults with Williams syndrome.