Tay-Sachs+Disease

==== ** Tay ** ** -Sachs Disease ** ====

====**What is Tay-Sachs Disease?** ====

====Tay-Sachs disease is a rare disease that destroys nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. Tay-Sachs disease occurs when the body lacks hexosaminidase A, a protein that helps break down a chemical found in nerve tissue. Without this protein, gangliosides, build up in cells, especially nerve cells in the brain. ====

==== The most common form of Tay-Sachs disease becomes apparent in babies. Babies with this disorder appear normal until the age of 3 to 6 months, when their development slows and muscles used for movement weaken. Affected babies lose motor skills such as turning over, sitting, and crawling. They also develop an large scared and surprised reaction to loud noises. As the disease progresses, children with Tay-Sachs di﻿sease experience seizures, vision and hearing loss,learning disabilities, and paralysis. An eye problem called a cherry-red spot, which can be seen with an eye examination, is characteristic of this disorder. Children with this severe baby form of Tay-Sachs disease usually live only into early childhood. ==== ====Approximately 1 in 27 Ashkenazi Jews is a carrier of Tay-Sachs disease. The rate for French Canadians getting the disease is very high, and approximately 1 in 50 Irish Americans is a carrier. Anyone can be a carrier of Tay-Sachs, but the disease is most common among the Ashkenazi Jewish population. About 1 in every 27 members of the Ashkenazi Jewish population carries the Tay-Sachs gene. ====

====**What is it caused by? ** ====

====Tay-Sachs disease is caused by a gene. When both parents carry the Tay-Sachs gene, a child has a 25% chance of developing the disease. The child must receive two copies of the gene, one from each parent, in order to become sick. If only one parent passes the gene to the child, the child is called a carrier. He or she won't be sick, but will have the potential to pass the disease to his or her own children. ==== ====Tay-Sachs has been classified into babies, children teens and adult forms, depending on the symptoms and when they first appear. Most people with Tay-Sachs are in babies. In this form, the nerve damage usually begins while the baby is still in the mom’s stomach. Symptoms usually appear when the child is 3 to 6 months old. The disease tends to get worse very quickly, and the child usually dies by age 4 or 5. Tay-Sachs disease, is very rare for adults. ====

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