Governor Matt Mead signed a Proclamation declaring October Rett Syndrome Awareness Month in Wyoming. Rett Syndrome is a disorder of the nervous system that leads to developmental reversals, especially in the areas of expressive language and hand use. Rett syndrome occurs almost exclusively in girls and may be misdiagnosed as autism or cerebral palsy or non-specific developmental delay. Rett syndrome is caused by mutations on the X chromosome on a gene called MECP2  and strikes all  racial and ethnic groups, and occurs worldwide in 1 of every 10,000 to 23,000 female births. Myrna Johnson, Wyoming regional representative for the International Rett Syndrome Foundation, says he’s hopeful the proclamation will bring awareness to the disease and help with fundraising for research and treatment.

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