Progeria is a rare, genetically determined condition characterized by 
accelerated aging in children. Its name is derived from Greek (Geron) and means 
"prematurely old". The classic type is the Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome 
(HGPS), which was first described in England in 1886 by Dr. Jonathan Hutchinson 
(1) and again in 1904 by Dr. Hastings Gilford (2). Since then and up to now, 
very little advancement toward the understanding of this devastating disorder 
has been accomplished. In early 2003 a French group succeeded in identifying 
point mutations in the LMNA gene, encoding A-type lamins, as the main cause of 
this disorder. These results were concomitantly confirmed by an American group, 
who identified mutations in LMNA, working on a large cohort of patients (3,4). 
HGPS is thus the most severe disorder added to the expanding list of 
"laminopathies", diseases caused by mutations in the LMNA gene encoding A-type 
lamins. To date, up to ten disorders are associated with mutations in LMNA. 
These disorders are diverse, both in their symptomatology and pattern of 
inheritance (see below and table 1). Due to the extremely low prevalence of 
progeria and the putative functional links between progeria and other premature 
aging disorders, setting-up a network about these disorders has become an 
absolute necessity. A reunion of families with a child affected with progeria, 
gathered within the European Progeria Family Circle, was held from September 
25th to 29th 2003 in Magdeburg, Germany. In parallel to this event, a scientific 
symposium centered on clinical and molecular update of HGPS and related 
syndromes was organised. Several international experts, including clinical and 
molecular geneticists, cell biologists involved in the field of laminopathies, 
as well as paediatricians and other physicians with clinical experience in 
diagnosis, treatment and research on progeria and progeria-like syndromes 
presented their experience as well as their research projects and yet 
unpublished results. The main discussed topics as well as the developing 
research fields on progeria and related premature ageing disorders will be 
presented here.