Teenager trapped in the body of a 100-year-old due to rare genetic condition dies aged 17
A teenager suffering a rare genetic condition that gave her the body of a 100-year-old has died aged 17.
Hayley Okines hit the headlines three years ago when she was part of a documentary about her premature ageing condition.
She suffered from the rare disease progeria which ages the body at eight times the normal rate.
Progeria takes its name from the Greek word 'proeros', meaning prematurely old.
It involves a mutant protein called progerin that accelerates physical ageing.
There are around 74 known cases of the disease around the world and only 4 in the UK.
A 10 year old progeria child will have the appearance of an ooctogenarian with symptoms including baldness, arthritis and heart problems, but the mind of a 10 year old.
