How long do kids with leukodystrophy live?

How long do kids with leukodystrophy live?

Psychiatric symptoms such as hallucinations may follow before further symptoms. This also progresses slowly; life expectancy is 20-30 years from diagnosis.

What are symptoms of MLD?

Symptoms of MLD may include any of the following:

• Abnormally high or decreased muscle tone, or abnormal muscle movements, any of which may cause problems walking or frequent falls.
• Behavior problems, personality changes, irritability.
• Decreased mental function.
• Difficulty swallowing.
• Inability to perform normal tasks.

Is MLD curable?

There is currently no cure for MLD, a disease caused by a fault in the gene that produces an enzyme called arylsulfatase A (ARSA). This leads to a build-up of substances called sulfatides in the central and peripheral nervous system.

What age does leukodystrophy occur?

This is the second most common form and starts in children between 3 and 16 years of age. Early signs are behavior and cognitive problems and increasing difficulty in school. Loss of the ability to walk may occur.

How do you get MLD?

MLD is inherited in a recessive fashion. That means for a person to develop the disease, both inherited genes associated with MLD must be defective. If a child inherits only one defective gene, he or she is a carrier of the disease, but is unlikely to develop MLD.

Is MLD genetic?

MLD is an autosomal recessive genetic disorder. Recessive genetic disorders occur when both copies of the gene are affected. If a child is affected, most of the time, their parents are carriers, meaning each parent will have one changed (mutated) copy and one normal copy of the ARSA gene, but will not have symptoms.

Who treats metachromatic leukodystrophy?

Mayo Clinic neurologists and other specialists are experienced in caring for people with metachromatic leukodystrophy. Mayo Clinic experts evaluate and treat more than 40 people with metachromatic leukodystrophy each year.