Marfan Syndrome: Now and Then

       We, who live in the United States, all know of the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln. We know of what he did, how he died, who killed him, but that is where they cut off who he was when teaching his life in schools. But there may have been a huge part of his life that is never addressed in the classroom, and to learn of it you would have to know what to look for. This part of his life was called Marfan syndrome, and that is what this blog will speak of.
​       First, what is Marfan syndrome? Marfan syndrome is defined as “a hereditary disorder of connective tissue, resulting in abnormally long and thin digits and also frequently in optical and cardiovascular defects.” In layman's terms it means to have “greater than average height, long arms and legs, eye problems, and enlargement of the aorta.” The actual definition is what the symptoms of Marfan syndrome consist of. Since Lincoln was a president and as such, was not open about his personal problems, it is possible he has Marfan Syndrome, which is why I said “there may have been” earlier. But many scientists agree that it is more than likely he had Marfan syndrome. 

       As I said before, Marfan syndrome is a disorder that is inherited. But even though a parent has to have the disorder, 25 percent of those who have Marfan syndrome have it because of a new mutation that spontaneously develops. It also affects male and female of any ethnicity equally, but it is more dangerous in females. Reason being is if she gives birth. A part of Marfan syndrome has to do with the heart, the aortic valve to be precise. When a female with this disorder is giving birth she risks her aorta rupturing. The rupture of the aorta is a common cause of death in those with Mafan syndrome.
​       Now Marfan syndrome is by no means a new disorder. We actually have evidence that dates back to Egypt's New Kingdom; 1352 – 1334 BCE to be exact. During this time ruled a very controversial, at least in his time, pharaoh under the name of Akhenaten. He is most famous for changing the religion of Egypt from many to one, and for who he was married to; Nefertiti. Early in his rule, we can see a uniformity of the length of his face with the pharaohs that came before him, but that quickly changed as he became settled as pharaoh. From the statues to the art on the walls we could see his long limbs and face. Probably the most famous wall art is him and Nefertiti playing with their children (image below). But Nefertiti is also shown to having long limbs, so these can not be seen as trust worthy, right? 

       Even though in this artwork all who are shown have his disorder, but in others that are actual statues, you can clearly see it in his face; and one has him sitting across Nefertiti, with him having an elongated face while her face is not (image below). There is no evidence that Nefertiti had Marfan syndrome, but perhaps the representation of his children were as true as they could be, because they most likely inherited it. At first it was suggested that he had Froehlich's Syndrome because he had feminine features, but that is all that fit in with that theory (other signs of Froehlich's Syndrome was short stature and retardation of which Akhenaten did not show), and Marfan syndrome fits him to a T.

       It is so interesting to know that some disorders we have nowadays, existed so far in the past. I do not see an end to the disorder that is Marfan syndrome. Even if those with it were to stop reproducing, there is always the risk of the spontaneous mutation. Seeing how the earliest sign of Marfan syndrome was 3,368 years ago, there is not even a point of origin we can refer to.
​       Please feel free to comment on what you thought of the blog, or other physical anthropological subjects you would like me to cover.