Doctors Baffled, Intrigued by Girl Who Doesn't Age

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Health/Story?id=7880954&page=1 ^

[chevydude26]

Brooke Greenberg is the size of an infant, with the mental capacity of a toddler.

She turned 16 in January. "Why doesn't she age?" Howard Greenberg, 52, asked of his daughter. "Is she the fountain of youth?"

Such questions are why scientists are fascinated by Brooke. Among the many documented instances of children who fail to grow or develop in some way, Brooke's case may be unique, according to her doctor, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine pediatrician Lawrence Pakula, in Baltimore.

"Many of the best-known names in medicine, in their experience ... had not seen anyone who matched up to Brooke," Pakula said. "She is always a surprise."

Brooke hasn't aged in the conventional sense. Dr. Richard Walker of the University of South Florida College of Medicine, in Tampa, says Brooke's body is not developing as a coordinated unit, but as independent parts that are out of sync. She has never been diagnosed with any known genetic syndrome or chromosomal abnormality that would help explain why.

[chevydude26]

woah...

[omega4179]

Baffling is right.

[Red_Devil 232]

Are you kidding me? That baby is 16 years old?

[Borges]

Doesn’t pass the smell test.

[Jet Jaguar]

“Brooke went through a series of medical emergencies from which she recovered, often without explanation. She survived surgery for seven perforated stomach ulcers. She suffered a brain seizure followed by what was diagnosed as a stroke that weeks later left no apparent damage.”

Immortal in the Highlander sense.

Fascinating.

[exist]

Need to get that for my wife.

[allmost]

She has never been diagnosed with any known genetic syndrome or chromosomal abnormality that would help explain why.

Something is there. If they can't find it the entire foundation is false.

[null and void]

It’s not so much that she doesn’t age, it’s more like she doesn’t grow up.

Sorta like a certain guy in the Whine House...

[Wiseghy]

I figured they would know a lot more about her than the reporter seems to let on. This seems to be the only human case on the planet, and it to goes to the heart of most aging research.

[goldstategop]

Its the reverse of progeria. What if you never grew up? Its fascinating.

[darkangel82]

What if you never grew up?

---

Then you’d be a liberal.

[Repeal The 17th]

At about 16 pounds and 30 inches, 16-year-old Brooke Greenberg has not aged significantly, physically or apparently cognitively, since she was a toddler. Doctors hope that her case could shed light on the mysterious genetics behind aging.

[conservative cat]

Years ago, my daughter had surgery at a hospital for children. The baby girl in the room kept me up at night with her crying. Based on the cry, I figured her at about 6 months old. The next day, a volunteer came in to read to her, and I got a better look and guessed she was maybe between a year and 18 months, but obviously delayed. Later, when I went to look out the window, I saw her name tag with her birth date. She was six years old. My heart caught in my throat.

[goldstategop]

Its weird. Eternal babyhood.

[Ladysmith]

There’s a link to a set of 10 pictures of her with her siblings who grow normally over the years. The picture you posted is when she’s three years old.

[Red_Devil 232]

Well it is one way to avoid taxes.

[ETL]

Looks less like an infant here.

Brooke, 16, and Carly, 13.
(Courtesy Greenberg Family)

http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Health/Story?id=7880954&page=1

[Alex Murphy]

THE OLDEST BABY IN THE WORLD
Words and music by John Prine

She's got the mind of a child
And a body peaking over the hill
Well, she would if she could
And she should but nobody will
With her nails painted red
And her hair so unnaturally curled
Well I think that she may be
The oldest baby in the world

She's tasted the night life
But it's left her with nothing but hunger
And all the available men
Seem to think that they want something younger
But youth is a costume
And the beauty within lies unfurled
And I think that she may be
The oldest baby in the world

[bridge]
Fast horses win races
And royal flushes beat aces
And everyone's playing to keep
So let's turn out the lights
And rock that old baby to sleep

She loves the sound of the rain
But you know she's still afraid of the thunder
She keeps a head full of hope
And a heart that's so full of wonder
She may look like a woman
But she's still some daddy's little girl
And I think that she may be
The oldest baby in the world

Yes, I think that she may be
The oldest baby in the world

[SIDENET]

I still have the sense of humor of a 12-year-old.

[Costumed Vigilante]

Well at least I know where to hunt her down.

There can be only one.

[Sundog]

What about the case of the man who lived to be 256, who died in 1933?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Li_Qing_Yuen

[Jet Jaguar]

Yep. :0)

[Thrownatbirth]

I know I’m developmentally retarded.

[Sylvester McMonkey McBean]

Remarkable.

Her ears seem to be the only thing to exhibit normal growth.

[spectre]

I've heard our ears and nose continue to grow thru out our lives...I don't know how true it is :)

sw

[Slings and Arrows]

No joke here. May her life be as happy as is possible.

[fanfan]

Need to get that for my wife.

LOL!

[Raycpa]

Very advanced case of liberalism.

[Quix]

ping

[retrocon]

It’s quite obvious....she must be a vampire.

[The Phantom FReeper]

A diagnosis of primordial dwarfism would explain quite a bit, including why she did not respond to growth hormone.

[KosmicKitty]

Imagine the fear of dying and when you have a child that will never grow-up.

Glad there are normal siblings who will hopefully care for her.

[MoochPooch]

She clearly looks retarded or mentally disabled.

[Ptarmigan]

This sort of reminds me of axolotls, except they are adults. Axolotls are salamanders that do grow up, but look like babies.

[reformedliberal]

There are facial elements in the picture of her at 16 that caused me to think “primordial dwarf”, as well. But there should be some DNA evidence for that. Even if it is a unique type with no prior case histories, _some_ abnormalities should be evident.