Health
What is Angelman syndrome? Colin Farrell’s son is living with this rare disease
Actor Colin Farrell is launching a new foundation to raise awareness of a rare genetic condition called Angelman syndrome, so that his son and others with the disorder will have more support and resources as they transition into adulthood.
“I want the world to be kind to James,” Farrell, 48, told People magazine ahead of his son’s 21st birthday in September.
“All the safeguards that are put in place, special ed classes — that all goes away, so you’re left with a young adult who should be an integrated part of our modern society and, more often than not, is left behind.”
COLIN FARRELL TEARS UP WHILE SPEAKING ABOUT HIS 20-YEAR-OLD SON WITH RARE NEUROGENIC DISORDER: ‘HE’S MAGIC’
What is Angelman syndrome?
The syndrome was first described in 1965 by physician Dr. Harry Angelman, according to the National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD).
It is a disorder of the nervous system, which helps control movements, thoughts and behaviors, as stated by Cleveland Clinic.
Actor Colin Farrell is launching a new foundation to raise awareness of a rare genetic condition called Angelman syndrome, which affects his son — pictured with Farrell, at right, in 2009. (Getty Images)
Most cases are caused by a random genetic change during early development, which means those who are affected usually have no family history of the disease, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) adds.
STIFF PERSON SYNDROME PATIENTS SHARE WHAT IT’S LIKE TO LIVE WITH THE RARE DISEASE
“Angelman syndrome is a complex neurodevelopmental disorder resulting from the loss of function of a specific gene called UBE3A, which plays a crucial role in brain development,” Dr. Issac Molinero, pediatric neurologist at Ochsner Children’s Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, told Fox News Digital.
The genetic changes that occur with Angelman syndrome lead to significant challenges, including severe intellectual disability, communication difficulties and characteristic behavioral patterns, such as frequent laughter and smiling, according to Molinero.
Model Kim Bordenave and actor Colin Farrell, parents of son James Farrell, are pictured at the 75th Annual Academy Awards at the Kodak Theater on March 23, 2003, in Hollywood, California. (Getty Images)
Dr. Dana Price, pediatric neurologist and director of Angelman Clinic at NYU in New York City, described the disorder as a “spectrum.”
It can include “low muscle tone, developmental delay, poor gait, seizures (ranging from febrile seizures to refractory epilepsy), constipation, poor sleep and challenging behavior,” she told Fox News Digital in an email.
Developmental delays
The condition causes delays in development for the children it affects.
Newborn babies may have trouble latching on or swallowing milk, and after a few months, they may not be able to lift their heads, according to Cedars Sinai.
They may also miss the milestones of sitting up alone, crawling, standing up by themselves or taking their first steps.
THE GIRL WHO CAN’T SMILE: HOW A RARE DISORDER BECAME A YOUNG WOMAN’S ‘GREATEST GIFT’
Infants can develop microcephaly, a condition where their heads are characteristically smaller compared to other children of the same age, per NIH.
“Generally, developmental delays associated with Angelman syndrome will become noticeable around six to 12 months of age,” Molinero told Fox News Digital.
Children with the disorder often learn to communicate in other ways, like gesturing, and may be able to understand a simple conversation. (iStock)
Silence is another hallmark clue, experts say.
The baby may be able to say words like “Dada” and follow simple commands, but won’t be able to put together complete sentences or have a verbal conversation, according to Cedars Sinai.
At age 2 or 3 years old, some children may start to have seizures, Mayo Clinic notes.
The rare disorder only affects roughly 500,000 people worldwide.
One typical hallmark of the syndrome is unprovoked fits of laughter, along with frequent smiling and hand-flapping movements, according to NIH.
Children with the disorder often have short attention spans, with most having difficulty sleeping or needing less sleep than normal.
PENNSYLVANIA MOM SEEKS ‘PERFECT MATCH’ BONE MARROW DONOR TO CURE DAUGHTER’S RARE DISORDER: ‘CRUCIAL NEED’
The sleep issues tend to improve as the child gets older, but the limited speech, intellectual disabilities and seizures may continue throughout life.
Although most people with the condition can’t speak, they learn to communicate in other ways, such as gesturing, and may be able to understand a simple conversation, according to NORD.
Diagnosis and treatment
Doctors diagnose the condition based on blood tests that look for the genetic mutation, experts say.
The syndrome is often misdiagnosed, as initial symptoms can be confused with more well-known diseases like autism or cerebral palsy, according to the Angelman Syndrome Foundation.
Children are often not diagnosed until they are 3 or 4 years old, when they have already started pre-school. (iStock)
Children are often not diagnosed until they are 3 or 4 years old, when they have already started pre-school, experts say.
The rare disorder only affects roughly 500,000 people worldwide, Molinero noted.
Those with the condition have a normal life expectancy, according to NIH.
Individualized treatment
“Although there is no definitive cure for Angelman syndrome, proactive early intervention through therapies, educational support and community resources can significantly enhance the quality of life for affected individuals and their families,” Molinero said.
Depending on symptoms, treatments may include various medications for seizures, sleep, mood, reflux and constipation, Price added.
Those with the disorder may also receive various types of therapy to learn how to communicate non-verbally, to manage hyperactivity and to improve balance. (iStock)
Those with the disorder may also receive various types of therapy to learn how to communicate non-verbally, to manage hyperactivity and to improve balance.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
“This is a very exciting time to work with the Angelman Community, because drug companies are working to develop precision medicine to turn on the missing gene (UBE3A),” Price said.
“Genetic treatment with precision medicine is such a revolutionary prospect — for the first time, we would be treating the disease, not the symptoms.”
For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews/health
Those who have a family member with Angelman Syndrome or are affected themselves can visit an Angelman Clinic or the Angelman Syndrome Foundation’s website at https://www.angelman.org.
Fox News Digital reached out to the Colin Farrell Foundation for comment.
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
As colorectal cancer (CRC) is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50, a new report reveals some surprising shifts in the incidence of the disease.
Although rates of CRC have been declining among seniors, those 65 and under are facing a rise in diagnoses, according to a report titled Colorectal Cancer Statistics, 2026, from the American Cancer Society.
Adults 65 and younger comprise nearly half (45%) of all new colorectal cancer cases — a significant increase from 27% in 1995, states the report, which was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
The disease is rising fastest among adults 20 to 49 years old, at a rate of 3% per year.
Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer death in adults under 50. (iStock)
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. Although that age group is eligible to receive routine screenings, just 37% do so.
CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
The report also revealed that rectal cancer is on the rise, now accounting for about one-third (32%) of all CRC cases — an increase from 27% in the mid-2000s.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“After decades of progress, the risk of dying from colorectal cancer is climbing in younger generations of men and women, confirming a real uptick in disease because of something we’re doing or some other exposure,” said Rebecca Siegel, senior scientific director, surveillance research at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the report, in a press release.
Among adults 50 and under, 75% of colorectal cancers are diagnosed at an advanced stage. Half of the diagnoses in that age range are made between the ages of 45 and 49. (iStock)
“We need to redouble research efforts to understand the cause, but also circumvent deaths through earlier detection by educating clinicians and the general public about symptoms and increasing screening in people 45-54 years.”
It is projected that 158,850 new cases of colorectal cancer will be diagnosed this year, and that the disease will cause 55,230 deaths, per the report.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
More than half of CRC cases can be linked to high-risk behaviors, the researchers said. Those include lack of nutrition, high alcohol consumption, smoking, lack of exercise and obesity.
“These findings further underscore that colorectal cancer is worsening among younger generations and highlight the immediate need for eligible adults to begin screening at the recommended age of 45,” said Dr. William Dahut, chief scientific officer at the American Cancer Society.
When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%. (iStock)
“The report also shines a light on the crucial importance of continued funding for research to help discover new therapies to treat the disease and advance patient care.”
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
When the disease is caught at a local (early) stage, the five-year survival rate is 95%, the report stated.
Related Article
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
A new study suggests that middle-aged men may be more vulnerable to faster biological aging, potentially linked to exposure to “forever chemicals.”
The research, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, examined how perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, more commonly known as PFAS, could impact aging at the cellular level.
PFAS are synthetic chemicals commonly used in nonstick cookware, food packaging, water-resistant fabrics and other consumer products, the study noted.
Their chemical structure makes them highly resistant to breaking down, allowing them to accumulate in water, soil and the human body.
Chinese researchers analyzed blood samples from 326 adults enrolled in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 1999 and 2000.
A new study suggests that middle-aged men could face accelerated biological aging at the cellular level due to exposure to PFAS. (iStock)
The researchers measured levels of 11 PFAS compounds in participants’ blood and used DNA-based “epigenetic clocks” — tools that analyze chemical changes to DNA to estimate biological age — to determine how quickly their bodies were aging at the cellular level, the study stated.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
Two compounds, perfluorononanoic acid (PFNA) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (PFOSA), were detected in 95% of participants.
Higher concentrations of those chemicals were associated with faster biological aging in men of certain age groups, but not in women.
“People should not panic.”
The compounds most strongly linked to accelerated aging were not the PFAS chemicals that typically receive the most public attention, the researchers noted.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
“The associations were strongest in adults aged 50 to 64, particularly in men,” Dr. Xiangwei Li, professor at Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine and the study’s corresponding author, told Fox News Digital.
“While this does not establish that PFAS cause aging, it suggests that these widely present ‘forever chemicals’ may be linked to molecular changes related to long-term health and aging.”
The study found that two of the compounds were detected in 95% of participants, and higher levels were linked to faster biological aging in men ages 50–64. (iStock)
Midlife may represent a more sensitive biological period, when the body becomes more vulnerable to age-related stressors, according to the researchers.
Lifestyle factors, such as smoking, may influence biological aging markers, potentially increasing vulnerability to environmental pollutants.
While Li said “people should not panic,” she does recommend looking for reasonable ways to reduce exposure.
That might mean checking local drinking water reports, using certified water filters designed to reduce PFAS, and limiting the use of stain- or grease-resistant products when alternatives are available.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE LIFESTYLE STORIES
Meaningful reductions in PFAS exposure will likely depend on broader regulatory action and environmental cleanup efforts, Li added.
The researchers noted that midlife could be a particularly sensitive stage, when the body is more susceptible to stressors associated with aging. (iStock)
Study limitations
The researchers outlined several important limitations of the research, including that the findings show an association, but do not prove that PFAS directly causes accelerated aging.
“The study is cross-sectional, meaning exposure and aging markers were measured at the same time, so we cannot determine causality,” Li told Fox News Digital.
The study was also relatively small, limited to 326 adults age 50 or older, which means the findings may not apply to younger people or broader populations.
TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
Researchers measured PFAS levels using data collected between 1999 and 2000, and today’s exposure patterns may differ.
Li added that while PFAS is known to persist in the environment and the body, these results should be validated through larger, more recent studies that follow participants over time.
Related Article
Use left and right arrow keys to navigate between menu items.
Use escape to exit the menu.
Sign Up
Create a free account to access exclusive content, play games, solve puzzles, test your pop-culture knowledge and receive special offers.
Already have an account? Login
Reward yourself by exercising regularly at One to One Fitness | CWRU Newsroom | Case Western Reserve University
Movie Review: Here comes “THE BRIDE!”, audacious and wild – Rue Morgue
Netflix, After Walking Away From Warner Bros. Deal, Will ‘Move Forward’ With ‘$2.8 Billion in Our Pocket That We Didn’t Have a Few Weeks Ago,’ CFO Says
Video: Senate Republicans Block Limits to Trump’s War Powers
Mundane, magic, maybe both — a new book explores ‘The Writer’s Room’
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Indiana Members Credit Union announced as new anchor tenant at Bottleworks District
DHS defends McLaughlin against allegations husband’s company profited millions from ad contracts: ‘Baseless’
Sánchez defies Trump in political gamble as Madrid say no to war
Satellite images show Iran school strike hit more buildings than earlier reported
US submarine sinks Iranian warship by torpedo in a first since World War II
Which oil and gas facilities in the Gulf have been attacked?
-
World1 week agoExclusive: DeepSeek withholds latest AI model from US chipmakers including Nvidia, sources say
-
Massachusetts1 week agoMother and daughter injured in Taunton house explosion
-
Wisconsin3 days agoSetting sail on iceboats across a frozen lake in Wisconsin
-
Maryland4 days agoAM showers Sunday in Maryland
-
Denver, CO1 week ago10 acres charred, 5 injured in Thornton grass fire, evacuation orders lifted
-
Florida4 days agoFlorida man rescued after being stuck in shoulder-deep mud for days
-
Louisiana1 week agoWildfire near Gum Swamp Road in Livingston Parish now under control; more than 200 acres burned
-
Oregon5 days ago2026 OSAA Oregon Wrestling State Championship Results And Brackets – FloWrestling