Fountain of Youth may exist in teenager

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By Jenna Phillips

By Jenna Phillips

Copy Editor

Brooke Greenberg is a teenager, but no one can tell by looking at her. Although Brooke has been alive for 16 years, she still has the body of an infant and the mind of a toddler. In fact, the only parts of her body that has consistently grown are her hair and nails.

According to ABC News, "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."

While her body has remained in infant form, her mind has advanced. In contrast, Brooke's bones have aged, and scientists estimate her bone age to be 10 years old. Brooke's family even asserts that she has a teenage mentality, and will often "rebel" when she is unhappy with something.

Brooke has three sisters - Emily, Caitlin and Carly - who have all aged normally. Her parents have hired a caretaker to attend to her while they are at work and spend all other time taking care of her. But her family insists that Brooke is an integral part of their family and would not have it any other way.

Scientists continue to study Brooke intensely hoping to discover why she is aging, or not aging, the way that she is. DNA research has been conducted, and Dr. Walker feels the key may be in a genetic mutation that one day might be isolated and extracted.

"Without being sensational, I'd say this is an opportunity for us to answer the question, why we're mortal, or at least to test it," Walker told ABC. "And if we're wrong, we can discard it. But if we're right, we've got the golden ring."

Brooke's parents are fully willing to cooperate with Walker and he continues to study their daughter.

"Brooke is the nucleus of our family," Brooke's father, Howard Greenberg told ABC. "What if Brooke holds the secret to aging? We'd like to find out. We'd like to help people. Everybody's here for a reason. Maybe this is why Brooke is here."

To find out more about Brooke's story, TLC will be running a documentary, "Child Frozen in Time," highlighting her life on Sunday, Aug. 1 at 9 p.m.

E-mail the author at Jenna@tigerweekly.com

Originally Published: Issue 806 - July 1, 2009

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