A SCIENTIST with a rare premature ageing condition has devoted his life to finding a cure for others with the disorder. Sammy Basso, 25, from Venice, Italy, has Hutchinson-Gilford progeria syndrome (HGPS) and is one of only 179 known cases in the world. Sammy’s condition means he is just 4ft 6" (1.38m) tall and weighs only 44lbs (20kg). Outward characteristics of progeria include prominent eyes, visible veins on the scalp, hair loss and a lack of fat under the skin. However, it also carries a high risk of more serious complications such as joint issues, strokes and heart disease - all associated with ageing - and the average mortality rate for people with progeria is only 14.5 years. Determined not to be a victim of his condition, Sammy became a molecular biologist and wrote his graduate thesis on progeria. He said: "Progeria helped me understand what I want to do in my life. I want to change the world - in my little way. We are working to cure progeria, we know the theory, we just have to understand how to apply that medically." Sammy is also the founder of the Italian Association of Progeria Sammy Basso, a non-profit which provides information about progeria and supports scientific research into it. Sammy also has a special wheelchair he can sit in while the Sammy Runners - amateur runners from the local running club - take him for a ride, with their next target being the Milan Marathon. Sammy said: “If I could choose to be born again, I would like this life, but of course I’m working for a better future."