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1 | HOUSE RESOLUTION
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2 | WHEREAS, Fragile X-associated Disorders (FXD) are a family | ||||||
3 | of genetic conditions that can affect
individuals in a variety | ||||||
4 | of ways; the conditions are all caused by changes in the FMR | ||||||
5 | gene; and | ||||||
6 | WHEREAS, Fragile X Syndrome (FXS) is the most common cause | ||||||
7 | of inherited intellectual disability and
the most common known | ||||||
8 | genetic cause of autism or autism spectrum disorders, affecting | ||||||
9 | people of
every race, income level, and nationality; and | ||||||
10 | WHEREAS, Fragile X-associated Tremor/Ataxia Syndrome | ||||||
11 | (FXTAS) is an adult-onset condition, occurring
more commonly in | ||||||
12 | males than females, that causes tremor and affects balance and | ||||||
13 | memory in some
"carriers" of the Fragile X gene and is often | ||||||
14 | mistaken for Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, and other conditions;
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15 | and | ||||||
16 | WHEREAS, Fragile X-associated Primary Ovarian | ||||||
17 | Insufficiency (FXPOI) is a condition of decreased ovarian
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18 | function that can lead to reduced fertility or infertility, | ||||||
19 | irregular or absent menstrual periods, and early
menopause in | ||||||
20 | some female "carriers" of the Fragile X gene; and | ||||||
21 | WHEREAS, Over one-million Americans are carriers of a |
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1 | Fragile X mutation and thus have, or are at
risk for | ||||||
2 | developing, a Fragile X-associated Disorder (FXD) and over | ||||||
3 | 100,000 Americans have Fragile X
Syndrome; and
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4 | WHEREAS, Fragile X remains frequently undetected due to its | ||||||
5 | recent discovery and the lack of
awareness about the syndrome, | ||||||
6 | even within the medical community; and
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7 | WHEREAS, The genetic defect causing Fragile X has been | ||||||
8 | discovered and is easily identified by DNA
testing; and
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9 | WHEREAS, Fragile X is a powerful research model for | ||||||
10 | neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism,
schizophrenia, | ||||||
11 | pervasive developmental disorders, and other conditions | ||||||
12 | including Alzheimer's,
Parkinson's, reproductive problems in | ||||||
13 | women, and other medical conditions that may have a genetic
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14 | basis; and
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15 | WHEREAS, With concerted research efforts, a cure for | ||||||
16 | Fragile X Syndrome and associated disorders may
be developed; | ||||||
17 | and
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18 | WHEREAS, Fragile X research, both basic and applied, has | ||||||
19 | been vastly underfunded despite the
prevalence of the disorder, | ||||||
20 | the potential for development of a cure, the established | ||||||
21 | benefits of
available treatments and intervention, and the |
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1 | significance that Fragile X research has for related
disorders; | ||||||
2 | and
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3 | WHEREAS, The Illinois General Assembly as an institution | ||||||
4 | and members of the General Assembly as
individuals are in | ||||||
5 | unique positions to help raise public awareness about the need | ||||||
6 | for increased funding
for research and early diagnosis and | ||||||
7 | treatment for the disorder known as Fragile X; therefore, be it
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8 | RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE | ||||||
9 | NINETY-EIGHTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, That | ||||||
10 | we declare July 22 of each year to be Fragile X Awareness Day; | ||||||
11 | and be it further
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12 | RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be | ||||||
13 | presented to the central Illinois Fragile X resource
group that | ||||||
14 | represents the National Fragile X Foundation.
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