AR SR20

Proclaims October 2021 as Rett Syndrome Awareness Month in Arkansas

Identifies Rett syndrome as a rare postnatal genetic neurological disorder that occurs almost exclusively in females and rarely in males, with symptoms appearing 6 to 18 months after birth

Describes hallmark characteristics including regression of acquired motor skills, loss of speech, seizures, scoliosis, irregular breathing patterns, and near-constant repetitive hand movements while awake

Notes the disorder is not degenerative and that biomedical research in mice suggests neurological symptoms may be reversible even after decades of severe symptoms, with recent human clinical trials underway

Calls for continued awareness efforts among medical professionals, therapists, teachers, caregivers, and the general public to support research dedicated to finding a cure for Rett syndrome