Guide To The Symptoms Of Tay-Sachs Disease

Tay-Sachs disease is a rare hereditary disorder that occurs when the body lacks an enzyme that can break down fatty substances. These substances, gangliosides, accumulate in the child's brain until they reach toxic levels. They cause the nerve cells to stop functioning properly. Progression of the disease causes a loss of muscle control, which leads to eventual blindness, muscle paralysis, and death. For prospective parents with a Tay-Sachs disease family history, doctors recommend genetic counseling and testing before trying to conceive. Genetic counseling is also recommended for individuals in high-risk groups like Ashkenazi Jewish people, some French Canadian groups in Quebec, the Old Order Amish community located in Pennsylvania, and Louisiana's Cajun community.