All final assessments of structure and function herein for littermate wild-type (Lmna+/+, or WT) and progeria (LmnaG609G/G609G) mice are at 168 or 169 days of age, with increased survival of untreated progeria mice achieved via an improved feeding and care protocol that allowed the cardiovascular phenotype to worsen further, similar to that observed clinically in patients. The gene discussed is LMNA; the disease is progeroid syndrome.