"Button disease" isn't a single, formally recognized medical condition. The term appears in different contexts, often used metaphorically or colloquially. Let's examine the various meanings:
1. Progeria (Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome): The "Benjamin Button" Disease
This is the most common understanding of "button disease," referencing the film The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. Progeria is a rare genetic disorder causing accelerated aging in children. A mutation in the LMNA gene is responsible. Symptoms include rapid aging, growth retardation, and cardiovascular problems. Several sources, including WebMD (https://www.webmd.com/children/progeria), Healthline (https://www.healthline.com/health/progeria-syndrome), and articles in the Times of Israel (https://www.timesofisrael.com/israel-sees-its-first-ever-case-of-rare-rapid-aging-benjamin-button-disease/), refer to progeria using this colloquial name.
2. Figurative Use: "Reset Button" for Disease
The phrase "button disease" can be used metaphorically. For example, research at UMass Medical School refers to a "novel strategy [that] hits 'reset button' for disease-causing genetic duplications" (https://www.umassmed.edu/news/news-archives/2019/04/novel-strategy-hits-reset-button-for-disease-causing-genetic-duplications/). This doesn't refer to a specific disease but illustrates a therapeutic approach.
3. Button Test in Medical Assessments
A "button test" is used in some medical assessments, particularly for evaluating hand function. One study mentions a "button test (BT)" in the context of assessing functional impairment in patients with inflammatory joint diseases (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/14558047/). This is a specific test, not a disease itself.
4. Sickle Cell Disease Buttons
The CDC uses the term "Sickle Cell Disease Buttons" referring to digital buttons or images related to sickle cell disease awareness (https://www.cdc.gov/sickle-cell/communication-resources/buttons.html). This is not a medical term for a disease but relates to awareness campaigns.
In summary, "button disease" lacks a single, universally accepted meaning. Its usage depends heavily on context.
