Longevity in Rett Syndrome: Analysis of the North American Database

This analysis provides strong evidence for significant longevity in RTT and indicates the need for careful planning for long-term care of these women. The disproportionately greater survival seen in earlier time periods and in persons with atypical RTT may be attributed to more severely affected individuals dying before diagnosis in the former and to greater numbers with milder variants (ie, preserved speech and delayed onset) in the latter.