Alström syndrome (AS), also called Alström–Hallgren syndrome, is a very rare autosomal recessive genetic disorder characterised by childhood obesity and multiple organ dysfunction. Symptoms include early-onset type 2 diabetes, cone-rod dystrophy resulting in blindness, sensorineural hearing loss and dilated cardiomyopathy. Endocrine disorders typically also occur, such as hypergonadotrophic hypogonadism and hypothyroidism, as well as acanthosis nigricans resulting from hyperinsulinemia. Developmental delay is seen in almost half of people with Alström syndrome. It is caused by mutations in the gene ALMS1, which is involved in the formation of cellular cilia, making Alström syndrome a ciliopathy. At least 239 disease-causing mutations in ALMS1 have been described . Alström syndrome is sometimes confused with Bardet–Biedl syndrome, another ciliopathy which has similar symptoms, but Bardet–Biedl syndrome tends to have later onset in its symptoms, includes polydactyly and is caused by mutations in BBS genes. There is no cure for Alström syndrome. Treatments target the individual symptoms and can include diet, corrective lenses, hearing aids, medications for diabetes and heart issues and dialysis and transplantation in the case of kidney or liver failure. Prognosis varies depending on the specific combination of symptoms, but individuals with Alström syndrome rarely live beyond 50. At least 900 cases have been reported. Prevalence is fewer than 1 in 1,000,000 individuals in the general population, but the disorder is much more common in Acadians, both in Nova Scotia and Louisiana. It was first described by Swedish psychiatrist Carl-Henry Alström and his three associates, B. Hallgren, I. B. Nilsson and H. Asander, in 1959. Signs and symptoms Symptoms for Alström syndrome generally appear during infancy with great variability in age. Some of the symptoms include: Heart failure (dilated cardiomyopathy) in over 60% of cases, usually within the first few weeks after birth, but sometimes the onset is in adolescence or adulthood. Light sensitivity and vision problems (cone-rod dystrophy) in all cases, usually within 15 months of birth and progressively worsening until about 20 years of age Delays in early, developmental milestones in 50% of cases, learning disabilities in about 30% of cases Obesity in 100% of cases, apparent by 5 years of age but often apparent in infancy (Alström infants usually have normal birth weights, and by adolescence, weights tend to be in the high-normal to normal range.) Nystagmus (usually affects the children), one of the first symptoms to occur which causes involuntary rapid eye movement. Mild to moderate bilateral sensorineural