Topline
Actor Colin Farrell is shining light on a rare genetic disorder called Angleman syndrome in a new interview offering a peek into his life caring for his 20-year-old son with the condition, which Farrell told People magazine has rendered him nonverbal and left him struggling with balance and movement.
Irish actor Colin Farrell at Linwood Dunn Theater in Hollywood, California, on April 28, 2024.
Key Facts
The syndrome affects about one in every 15,000 people, or roughly 500,000 people globally, according to the Angelman Syndrome Foundation.
Angelman syndrome is caused by a genetic mutation and leads to delayed mental development, problems with speech and balance and, sometimes, seizures in those with the disorder.
There are no signs of Angelman syndrome at birth and the condition usually becomes prevalent in babies between the ages of 6 to 12 months old who are exhibiting delayed motor development, issues with balance and coordination, an overly excitable personality and feeding problems, particularly in infancy.
There is no cure to repair chromosomal mutations, so treatment for Angelman syndrome focuses on managing symptoms through physical, speech, occupational and behavioral therapy, as well as providing medication for those who suffer from seizures (between 80% and 90% of people with Angelman also develop epilepsy).
People with Angelman syndrome are expected to have normal life spans, according to the Angelman Syndrome Foundation, and many are able to learn basic skills that make living in group homes a possibility, though most will not be able to live completely independently.
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News Peg
Farrell, known for his roles in movies like “The Batman” and “The Gentlemen,” opened up about life with his son James in an interview with People magazine released Wednesday. He describes his son as “magic.”
Crucial Quote
“I want the world to be kind to James,” Farrell said. “I want the world to treat him with kindness and respect.”
What To Watch For
Farrell used the interview to announce he will launch the Colin Farrell Foundation to provide support to adults with intellectual disabilities. When his son turns 21 years old in September, Farrell said, he will age out of a number of support programs for disabled children, and Farrell said his foundation will aim to fill the gaps that currently exist for families with adults in need of help.
Key Background
Chromosomal abnormalities can occur in a number of ways but are all created from an error in cell division that ultimately results in someone having missing or extra chromosomes, or ones that are switched or turned upside down. Most chromosomal disorders are not passed from one generation to the next, but it is possible to inherit some types of abnormalities. The deviations, like the one that causes Angelman syndrome, are relatively common. Between 20% and 50% of conceptions will be affected by chromosomal abnormalities, but the rate of mutations in live births is much lower. Between 3% and 5% of babies are born with birth defects or genetic conditions related to chromosomal abnormalities, according to Fenway Health. Down’s syndrome is the most common and well-known example of such a condition, which is caused by an extra copy of a chromosome and occurs in roughly one of every 775 babies born in the United States each year. The risk of chromosomal abnormalities in a baby increases with their mother’s age—the chance of having a baby with Down’s syndrome, for example, rises from about one in 1,250 for a mother aged 25 to one in 100 for a woman who conceives at age 40.