Iverson's Disease

Not to be confused with the Betazoid condition of the same name, Iverson's Disease is an incurable genetic disease that affects humans. It's named after the doctor who first classified it.

History
The genetic mutation responsible for Iverson's is one of many genetic mutations that arose in the aftermath of world war three, and it is thought to have been caused by nuclear fallout from a specific nuclear incident during the war.

Early cases were initially thought to have been cases of Huntington's disease, another genetic condition in humans that causes neurodegeneration, however it lacked certain symptoms present in that condition. This caused some doctors to describe it as a variation of Huntington's.

In the 2060s, Swedish doctor Maj-Britt Iverson noticed that most cases were found in people who were in Western and Northern Europe, in areas effected by nuclear fallout from the attack on Paris in 2049. This prompted her to do further investigation into the disease, suspecting that it might be a form of degeneration due to radiation exposure. Iverson identified that the disease was affecting the muscular system, not the nervous system like in Huntington's, originally calling the disease strålningsmuterad muskelurartning (nuclear mutation muscular degeneration).

Today, all of those who have or carry Iverson's are descended from people who were in West and North Europe during WWIII, which fits with the idea that the mutation was originally caused by radiation. It is not known what about the bomb was responsible for the mutation that wasn't present in any other nuclear weapon of the era.

Progression
Symptoms of Iverson's generally do not appear until the 30s to 50s, although some cases of symptoms being spotted in their 20s or as late as 70 have been documented.

The condition causes the sufferer to lose physical ability, over a time frame that can last anywhere between 5 and 15 years.

Early symptoms often include new issues with balancing and standing upright, with the condition often being diagnosed after a collapse.

The disease progressively paralysis the sufferer, with those who die from Iverson's alone either dying from their heart stopping, or from losing the ability to breathe. Some others will die from choking on food or drink, or from accidents occurring due to loss of mobility.

The oldest someone has lived to be with Iverson's is 75, having been diagnosed at 70. Unlike most, his cause of death was from taking untested medication, that ended up rapidly de-ageing him.

Known people with Iverson's Disease
[|Mark Jameson]