Sammy Basso, the biologist who lived the longest with progeria, has passed away

Sammy Basso, a Venice biologist who suffered from the genetic disease progeria, died Saturday night at the age of 28, as his family announced on Sunday.

Basso was the longest-lived patient with this pathology, Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome, which causes premature aging of the body. He worked tirelessly to raise awareness of progeria and actively supported other patients.

Progeria does not affect mental ability, so intelligence remains unchanged and matches a person's true age.

Sammy felt unwell at a restaurant in Treviso, where he was with his family, and passed away late Saturday night from a sudden deterioration in his health.

He graduated from the Faculty of Natural Sciences with a thesis on finding therapies to slow the progression of his disease. For his services, Basso was honoured with a knighthood by Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

He also founded the Sammy Basso Italian Progeria Association, aimed at supporting research and helping people with the disease.

What is progeria?

Progeria, or Hutchinson-Gilford syndrome, is a rare genetic disorder caused by a mutation in a single gene, LMNA. This gene is responsible for producing the protein lamin A, which is essential for the structural integrity of the cell nucleus. The mutation produces an abnormal protein called progerin, leading to accelerated aging of the body.

People with progeria appear outwardly much older than their actual age. They usually live into their mid to late teens, less often into their early twenties. Severe cardiovascular complications that develop by puberty are the most common cause of death.