Mayim Bialik Encourages Awareness of Prader-Willli With Online PSA

As many of you know, my doctoral thesis in Neuroscience focused on a genetic syndrome called Prader-Willi Syndrome (PWS). PWS, a spontaneous mutation in chromosome 15, occurs in one out of approximately every 15,000 live births. The most distinctive feature of the syndrome is the inability to feel full; because of this, PWS is the leading cause of genetic obesity.

Individuals with PWS typically need to live in environments with no access to food in order to prevent overeating and the complications that can result from never feeling full and always seeking out food. Individuals with PWS also demonstrate a range of behavioral challenges as well as other medical issues involving the heart, bones, and endocrine system. (For more, see the above video or click here.)