The Facts
What is Tay Sachs Disease
Tay Sachs Disease (TSD) is an incurable inherited genetic disorder of
the central nervous system. Symptoms usually appear before six months,
when babies lose the ability to smile. Blindness, paralysis and seizures
follow, and the child usually dies before their fifth birthday.
Babies affected by TSD lack an enzyme called HexA. HexA is responsible
for breaking down certain fatty substances in brain and nerve cells. Without
it these substances gradually accumulate, eventually destroying brain
and nerve cells, and so the entire central nervous system.
Despite there being much research being done around the world, unfortunately
there is currently no treatment that is known to change the tragic outcome
in TSD.
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