Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
Strengthen the Spirit of Virginia
By virtue of the authority vested by the Constitution of Virginia in the Governor of the Commonwealth of Virginia, there is hereby officially recognized:
Fragile X Awareness Day
WHEREAS, Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common cause of inherited intellectual disability and the most commonly known genetic cause of autism or autism spectrum disorders; and
WHEREAS, over 1.5 million Americans are carriers of an FXS mutation and thus have, or are at risk for developing, an FXS-associated disorder, and over 100,000 Americans have Fragile X syndrome; and
WHEREAS, Fragile X disorders are also associated with tremor/ataxia syndrome, balance deficiencies, memory problems, ovarian insufficiency, menstrual deficiencies, early menopause, and neuropsychological conditions; and
WHEREAS, Fragile X is a powerful research model for neuropsychiatric disorders, such as autism, schizophrenia, pervasive developmental disorders, and similar conditions including Alzheimer's, reproductive problems in women, and other genetically based medical conditions; and
WHEREAS, although the genetic defect causing Fragile X has been discovered and is easily identified by DNA testing, FXS frequently goes undetected due to its rare nature and lack of awareness about the syndrome, even within the medical community; and
WHEREAS, raising awareness of Fragile X with the public and medical community will help patients with the FXS gene make better-informed medical decisions and assist those living with Fragile X syndrome to adapt into society and provide significant contributions towards better understanding autism and other FXS-associated conditions;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Glenn Youngkin, do hereby recognize July 22, 2024, as FRAGILE X AWARENESS DAY in the COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.