Werner Syndrome, Causing Premature Aging, Proposed as Rare Disease in Taiwan

The Ministry of Health and Welfare has announced a proposal to classify Werner syndrome, a condition causing rapid aging after puberty, as a rare disease. The 60-day notice period began on May 8th. The Health Promotion Administration stated that the application was submitted by a medical institution in November last year and was approved by the Rare Disease and Drug Review Committee. The designation will be retroactive to the application date to protect patients' rights. According to the Taiwan Foundation for Rare Disorders, Werner syndrome is a rare genetic disorder where individuals appear normal in childhood but experience premature aging in their teens or early adulthood. Symptoms like graying hair, cataracts, type 2 diabetes, and osteoporosis may appear in their 20s and 30s. The syndrome has a higher incidence in Sardinia and Japan, affecting about 1 in 20,000 to 40,000 newborns in Japan. Currently, there is no specific cure, and treatment focuses on managing symptoms.