Tay Sachs Disease

Tay-Sachs disease is a fatal disease of the nervous system that generally runs through families. It mainly occurs when the body suffers from insufficient hexosaminidase A – a protein that helps in breaking down gangliosides – a chemical traced in nerve tissue. Lack of hexosaminidase A can lead to the formation of ganglioside GM2 specifically into nerve cells inside the brain. The disease is primarily caused as a result of a defective gene on chromosome 15. In case of both parents carrying this defective gene, the child stands 25 percent of chances of developing Tay-Sachs disease. It is categorized into three forms: infantile, juvenile and adult, depending upon the symptoms and their location. Common symptoms include deafness, blindness, dementia, loss of muscle strength, irritability, slow growth, seizures, paralysis, loss of movement skills, and delayed social and mental skills.