News

A previously unreported mutation in the UBE3A gene was found to be the cause of Angelman syndrome for two sisters. The sisters’ journey to obtaining a correct diagnosis was detailed in a paper, “Undiagnosed rare disease clinic identifies a novel UBE3A variant in two sisters…

Emotional and behavioral problems are the symptoms of Angelman syndrome (AS) that most significantly predict lower life quality in children with the genetic disease, according to a study from the Netherlands. Moreover, these issues — along with a child’s sleep problems — were found to have the greatest impact…

The Phase 1/2 KIK-AS clinical trial, which is testing the experimental genetic therapy GTX-102 in children with Angelman syndrome, has finished enrolling patients. With 74 enrolled, including 53 in dose-expansion groups, the therapy’s developer Ultragenyx Pharmaceutical said results will be available in the next few months. “With completion…

Supporters globally are poised for International Angelman Day (IAD), set aside annually on Feb. 15, to call attention to Angelman syndrome and the 500,000 people globally estimated to be affected by the complex neurological disorder. In addition to spreading awareness about Angelman, the event seeks to unite and mobilize…

A device to remotely monitor sleep in Angelman syndrome (AS) patients, called EarlySense, was found to be feasible for characterizing their sleep patterns in an at-home setting, according to a recent report. The no-contact device recognized sleep patterns similar to those recorded with the gold-standard polysomnography (PSG) test, which involves…

The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST) has teamed up with the University of Pennsylvania to develop an investigational gene therapy for Angelman syndrome. The nonprofit has sponsored preclinical research at the Gene Therapy Program at the University of Pennsylvania since 2017 to develop a gene therapy…

Among the many sleeping problems facing children with Angelman syndrome, insomnia and the circadian rhythm disturbances that fracture sleep are the most frequent and troublesome, according to a survey of parents and caregivers. Sleep disturbances affect a child’s behavior at home and school, the adults noted, while depriving parents…

Angelman syndrome patients who experience falls or sleep problems tend to have worse quality of life, according to a survey of caregivers. “Significant findings from this caregiver study revealed that the ability to walk and ambulate is associated with higher [quality of life], whereas falls, problems with sleep, and…

The first patient organization for those living with Angelman syndrome in the Middle East and North Africa — a geographic region commonly known as MENA — has been established in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The MENA Angelman Association will cover more than 20 countries with an area of…

The protein Ube3a, whose defect causes Angelman syndrome, helps regulate connections between brain cells during development. That’s according to the study, “Presynaptic Ube3a E3 ligase promotes synapse elimination through down-regulation of BMP signaling,” which was published in Science. “Our findings reveal the physiological role of Ube3a…