ALEXANDRIA SYNDROME: CHARACTERISTICS, ORIGIN, FAMOUS - MEDICINE - 2024

The syndrome Alexandria is a very rare genetic mutation alleged. Its main characteristic, and for which it is best known, is the violet tone that it causes in the eyes of the people who have it. The list of supposed symptoms is very extensive; some even say that it is a mutation that turns its bearers into superhumans.

Some of the most striking symptoms of this supposed genetic mutation are resistance to disease, longevity, and even superhuman characteristics, such as no need to go to the bathroom. Within the scientific community, there is no consensus on the existence of this genetic disorder.

Elizabeth Taylor, actress who they claim suffered from Alexandria Syndrome

It is believed that it is possible that there is an alteration in the genome that allows the appearance of violet eyes; however, the strangest symptoms have never been documented. For this reason, most scientists consider the Alexandria Syndrome as a myth.

However, many people consider it to be the real thing. In this article we will examine the evidence for the existence of this mutation, as well as its most commonly described symptoms.

Characteristics and symptoms

Allegedly, Alexandria syndrome is caused by a genetic mutation that affects only women. In theory, people affected by this rare syndrome develop several extraordinary symptoms that would make them the next evolution of the human being.

Some of the symptoms described for Alexandria syndrome are as follows:

Violet eyes

Possibly the best known symptom of Alexandria syndrome, and the only one for which there is evidence, is the appearance of a violet color in the eyes of those who suffer from it.

They say that girls with Alexandria syndrome would be born with blue eyes. However, after approximately six months and due to the disease, they would change their color until they appear purple.

This symptom is technically possible: for example, in some cases of albinism a purple color is known to appear on the irises.

Resistance to sunlight

Another of the symptoms attributed to Alexandria syndrome is extreme resistance to sunlight, despite the fact that women affected by it would have extremely light skin and eyes.

However, its advocates claim that these people would not burn when exposed to sunlight. This is highly unlikely, since the substance that prevents skin burns, melanin, is hardly present in very pale people.

Lack of hair all over the body

Another of the symptoms commonly attributed to Alexandria syndrome is the lack of hair all over the body, except for the head, naturally. The hair would, however, be extremely strong and dark brown in color.

Apparently, these women would be born with hair only on the face (eyelashes, eyebrows, etc.) and on the head, with absolutely nothing else on the rest of the body.

Extreme fertility without menstruation

One of the most striking characteristics of women said to suffer from this syndrome is their extreme fertility despite an absence of menstruation. Although this is biologically impossible, the defenders of this genetic alteration defend that this has happened in some occasions.

Without going any further, what many consider to be the first woman with this syndrome and from whom she receives her name, Alexandría Agustín, supposedly had four daughters despite not having had any menstruation throughout her life.

Great longevity

Another of the most peculiar symptoms attributed to Alexandria syndrome is the extreme longevity of the people who suffer from it. For example, some legends say that Alexandria Agustín lived to be 150 years old.

According to proponents of the syndrome, people who suffer from it would stop aging around the age of 50. It would not be until much later, at least at age 100, that these women would resume the aging cycle.

Considering that the oldest person ever documented died at 122 years of age, this symptom seems highly unlikely.

Perfect physique without effort

Another of the most striking symptoms described for people with Alexandria syndrome is that they would have a perfect body without the need to exercise, and despite not having a healthy diet.

Therefore, carriers of the Alexandria syndrome gene would naturally possess an enviable physical form. This, however, is highly unlikely to happen in reality.

Legend about the origin of the syndrome

Proponents of the Alexandria syndrome allude to an Egyptian legend as its possible origin. According to some sources, several thousand years ago a bright light appeared in the sky, of unknown origin.

People who observed this mysterious light directly developed the violet eyes and pale skin characteristic of this syndrome. According to legend, these mutated women migrated north and disappeared for a long time.

Later, in the year 1329, a girl with violet eyes was born in London. This girl, Alexandría Agustín, was the one who gave the name to this syndrome. According to legend, her parents took her to a priest thinking that she was haunted, but the priest knew the Egyptian legend and assured them that everything was fine.

This woman would later give birth to four girls carrying the genetic mutation, giving rise to a whole family of women affected by Alexandria syndrome.

Celebrities with Alexandria syndrome

There are not many documented cases of Alexandria syndrome. The first recorded case was a woman named Alexandria Augustine in 1329 in London. Her parents, realizing her most distinctive feature, purple eyes, believed that she must be possessed and took her to a priest. Fortunately, the priest had heard of the mutation before and told the parents there was nothing wrong with their daughter.

The defenders of the existence of the Alexandria syndrome base some of their claims on the existence of some famous people with violet eyes, who according to them would be carriers of this syndrome.

Despite the fact that there is no scientifically documented case of the existence of people with this syndrome, many of its defenders point to the American actress Elizabeth Taylor as a possible carrier of this genetic mutation.

The reason they argue for this is that the actress can be seen in several of her films with purplish / dark blue eyes. However, experts say that, even if the actress really had violet eyes, this would not be conclusive evidence to affirm that she really had Alexandria syndrome.

Because Elizabeth Taylor is the only possible known case of a woman with eyes of this special color, detractors of the existence of Alexandria syndrome use this fact as proof that it does not really exist.

What is the real origin of Alexandria syndrome?

In general, reality is usually much less interesting than fiction. This is also the case with the story of the Alexandria syndrome: it seems that it arose from a fictional story written in the 1990s and that, from then on, this urban legend became popular.

An American author named Cameron Aubernon wrote for several years a fanfic about a series called Daria. A fanfic is a work of fiction based on an existing universe; For example, a big Harry Potter fan might write a fanfic that happens at Hogwarts.

In a statement about one of her books, called The Alexandria Syndrome Book, author Cameron Aubernon wrote the following:

«If you have read any of the stories in my fanfic based on the Daria series, you will have noticed that three of the protagonists have violet eyes. This is due to a genetic mutation called Alexandria syndrome.

However, the author herself later explained on her blog that the syndrome was entirely imaginary, created only to enrich the fictional story. For some reason, some of the readers of her stories started a rumor about the existence of Alexandria syndrome, and the myth has spread to this day.

Conclusion: does Alexandria syndrome exist?

Proponents of the existence of Alexandria syndrome make a number of claims that are very hard to believe. The existence of a single gene or mutation that would grant its carriers abilities such as great longevity, perfect physique or immunity to light with pale skin are, to say the least, unlikely.

On the other hand, the lack of evidence of people suffering from this genetic condition makes it even more difficult to believe in the existence of the syndrome. However, there are many authors who claim to be convinced of its existence, and that carriers of the gene could be the next step in human evolution.

However, the scientific community seems to agree that Alexandria syndrome is nothing more than an internet-originated myth.

Although the appearance of people with violet eyes is possible (as, for example, in cases of extreme albinism), the set of symptoms associated with this mutation could not occur in real life.

References

1. "Alexandria's Genesis" in: Alexandria's Genesis. Retrieved on: February 16, 2018 from Alexandria's Genesis: alexandriasgenesis.com.
2. "What is the Genesis or Alexandria Syndrome?" in: Medico Answers. Retrieved on: February 16, 2018 from Medico Answers: medicocontesta.com.
3. "Ever Heard of Purple Eyes?" in: Fashion Lady. Retrieved on: February 16, 2018 from Fashion Lady: fashionlady.in.