Angelman Syndrome Symptoms

Amanda Moore, CEO of the Angelman Syndrome Foundation discusses the three most important symptoms that family members would like to see focused on in patients with Angelman syndrome: Seizures, communication, and sleep.

Angelman syndrome is a rare genetic disorder affecting roughly 500,000 people worldwide. Patients with Angelman syndrome generally experience developmental delays, intellectual disabilities, extensive speech impairment, issues with movement and balance, epilepsy, and abnormal sleep-wake. Individuals with Angelman syndrome typically have a happy, excitable demeanor with frequent smiling, laughter, and hand-flapping movements.

Though no treatment is currently approved to treat this genetic anomaly, patients may benefit from the use of antiseizure medications; special educational services; and speech, physical, and occupational therapy.