What is adrenoleukodystrophy?
Adrenoleukodystrophy is a rare, life-limiting disorder that affects the adrenal glands and nerve cells in the brain. Only boys are affected.
What causes adrenoleukodystrophy?
Adrenoleukodystrophy is caused by a faulty gene preventing the breakdown of fatty acids in cells.
This leads to damage of the adrenal glands, the brain cells and the myelin, which is a substance surrounding nerve fibres that allows the brain cells to send messages to the rest of the body.
What are the symptoms of adrenoleukodystrophy?
The age of onset of symptoms, the rate of progression and the life expectancy differs between those affected.
Symptoms typically start to develop between the age of 4 and 10 and may include:
- Hyperactivity and disruptive behaviour
- Problems with memory and learning skills
- Minor infections causing severe illness due to damage of the adrenal glands
Over the next months or years steadiness and skills decline and the person will become completely dependent. Symptoms in the late stages of the condition may include:
- Deterioration of vision
- Epilepsy
- Loss of control of the muscles that are responsible for chewing, coughing and swallowing
- Chestiness that may cause infections and increased physical weakness
Unfortunately there is no treatment; however, there is support available.
