The name PROGERIA literally means "early age". The illness is also known as the "Hutchinson Gilford Syndrome" or "Progeria Infantiles". It was named after the doctors Hutchinson 1886 and Gilford 1904 from England. They described Progerie for the first time. Progerie is the most well-known form of the pre-aging diseases. There are still some other forms with fast aging.

After the first description of the illness in the year 1886 world-wide about 150 cases with Progerie became known. The occurrence of Progeria is estimated to be 1 in 10,000 births. This number refers to the annual number of new cases with Progerie Syndromes. The illness occurs world-wide without consideration of race or skin color. Children with Progerie live, for example, in America, Mexico, Canada, Australia, Venezuela, Puerto Rico and everywhere on the European continent.