I am interesred in finding out about and the name of a disease that makes a person age potentially severial years in each normal year. Robin Williams supposedly had this disease as the chacter Jack in his movie by the same name "Jack".

Are you thinking about progeria, or Hutchinson-Gilford progeria Syndrome?

Progeria is a rare genetic condition characterized by an appearance of accelerated aging in children. Generally, children that are 10 years of age will have the same respitory, muscular, and general health of a 70 year old adult.

The general characteristics are dwarfism, baldness, a pinched nose, small face and jaw relative to head size, delayed tooth formation, aged-looking skin, stiffness of joints, hip dislocations, generalized atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular problems. Most children affected have a remarkably similar appearance, despite racial background. At present, there is no cure or specific treatment available because the exact cause in unknown.

Associated Disease: Werner Syndrome
AKA: Progeria of the adult

More Information: The Progeria Research Foundation (http://www.progeriaresearch.org)
Source: THE PROGERIA SYNDROME FACT SHEET
Written by W. Ted Brown, MD, PhD
Professor and Chairman, Dept. Of Human Genetics
NYS Institute for Basic Research
Staten Island, NY