Hi everyone. Welcome to the premier episode of "Health Care on the Horizon," Looking Forward's new "sister" podcast.

Today we’re going to learn about a genetic disorder referred to as SYNGAP1. Most of us have probably never heard of SYNGAP1. That’s largely because it’s only recently been identified. Research is showing it is a significant factor in autism, epilepsy, and possibly other disorders, too, including Parkinson’s disease, schizophrenia, and Alzheimer’s disease.

To help us understand what SYNGAP1 is... and much more, we’ve brought on probably the best person out there to discuss this topic. She is Monica Weldon.

Monica Weldon is the Founder, President, and CEO of the SYNGAP1 Foundation. Monica’s twin son, Beckett, was the first to be diagnosed at Texas Children's Genetics Clinic with the gene mutation SYNGAP1. Over the past several years, Monica’s focus has been building the programs & mission of the SYNGAP 1 Foundation. And, as you’ll soon hear, she’s doing it! Monica is the Primary Investigator on the SYNGAP1 Registry & Natural History Study, the largest in the world. You’ll find much more about Monica if you go to our website. (See address and link below.)

If you want to learn more about this podcast, and its older sister podcast, Looking Forward, please visit the website, ostroff.com/">www.jeff-ostroff.com Also if you have any suggestions for future topics for this podcast, please send them in via the "Contact Us" page on the website. Finally, if you liked this episode, please tell anyone who you think might benefit from it.