Tay-Sachs Disease Learning Center

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Welcome

Tay-Sachs disease is a deadly disease passed down through families that causes damage to the nervous system.

Basic Info

Symptoms
Deafness; Decreased eye contact, blindness; Decreased muscle tone (loss of muscle strength; Delayed mental and social...
Causes
Tay-Sachs disease occurs when the body lacks hexosaminidase A, a protein that helps break down a chemical found in ne...
Tests
Family history; Physical examination; Enzyme analysis of blood or body tissue for hexosaminidase levels; Eye examinat...
Treatments
There is no treatment for Tay-Sachs disease itself, only ways to make the patient more comfortable.
Drugs
  • No known drug therapy
Alternative Therapies
The stress of illness may be eased by joining support groups whose members share common experiences and problems. See...
Risk Factors
Complications
Symptoms appear during the first 3 - 10 months of life and progress to spasticity, seizures, and loss of all voluntar...
Prevention
There is no known way to prevent this disorder. However, genetic testing can detect carriers of the gene for this dis...
Doctor Specialties
Go to the emergency room or call the local emergency number (such as 911) if your child has a seizure of unknown caus...

Basic Info

Related Topics

Genetic Disorders
Rare Disease

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