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NINDS Generalized Gangliosidoses Information Page


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What are Generalized Gangliosidoses?

The gangliosidoses are a group of inherited metabolic diseases caused by a deficiency of the different proteins needed to break down fatty substances called lipids. Excess lipid materials build up to harmful levels in the central and peripheral nervous systems, particularly in nerve cells. These genetically different disorders occur when both parents pass along the same mutated gene that regulates these proteins.

The GM1 gangliosidoses are caused by a deficiency of the enzyme beta-galactosidase.  Signs of early infantile GM1 gangliodisosis  (the most severe subtype, with onset shortly after birth) may include neurodegeneration, seizures, liver and spleen enlargement, coarsening of facial features, skeletal irregularities, joint stiffness, distended abdomen, muscle weakness, exaggerated startle response, and problems with gait. About half of affected persons develop cherry-red spots in the eye. Children may be deaf and blind by age 1.  Onset of late infantile GM1 gangliosidosisis typically between ages 1 and 3 years. Signs include ataxia, seizures, dementia, and difficulties with speech. Adult GM1 gangliosidosis strikes between ages 3 and 30, with symptoms that include muscle atrophy, corneal clouding in some patients, and dystonia. Non-cancerous skin blemishes may develop on the lower part of the trunk of the body. Adult GM1 is usually less severe and progresses more slowly than other forms of the disorder.

The GM2 gangliosidoses result from a deficiency of the enzyme beta-hexosaminidase. The GM2 gangliosidoses include Tay-Sachs disease and its more severe form, called Sandhoff disease.  Symptoms begin by age 6 months and include progressive mental deterioration, cherry-red spots in the retina, marked startle reflex, and seizures.  Children with Tay-Sachs may also have dementia, progressive loss of hearing, some paralysis, and difficulty in swallowing that may require a feeding tube. A  rarer form of the disorder, which occurs in patients in their twenties and early thirties, is characterized by an unsteady gait and progressive neurological deterioration. Additional signs of Sandhoff disease include motor weakness, early blindness, spasticity, muscle contractions, an abnormally enlarged head, heart murmurs, doll-like facial features, and an enlarged liver and spleen.

Is there any treatment?

No specific treatment exists for the gangliosidoses. Anticonvulsants may initially control seizures. Other supportive treatment includes proper nutrition and hydration and keeping the airway open.

What is the prognosis?

Children with early infantile GM1 often die by age 3 from cardiac complications or pneumonia. Children with the early-onset form of Tay-Sachs disease often die by age 4 from recurring infection. Children with Sandhoff disease generally die by age 3 from respiratory infections.

What research is being done?

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), conducts research on the lipid storage disorders in laboratories at the NIH and also supports additional research through grants to medical institutions across the country.

The National Library of Medicine (NLM), a component of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, offers free searches of biomedical literature through an Internet service called PubMed.  Go to: www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/PubMed. The NLM also offers extensive health information from NIH and other trusted sources. Go to: www.medlineplus.gov.

NIH Patient Recruitment for Gangliosidoses Clinical Trials

Organizations

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National Tay-Sachs and Allied Diseases Association
2001 Beacon Street
Suite 204
Boston, MA   02135
info@ntsad.org
http://www.ntsad.org
Tel: 800-90-NTSAD (906-8723)
Fax: 617-277-0134

 
Related NINDS Publications and Information


Prepared by:
Office of Communications and Public Liaison
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke
National Institutes of Health
Bethesda, MD 20892



NINDS health-related material is provided for information purposes only and does not necessarily represent endorsement by or an official position of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke or any other Federal agency. Advice on the treatment or care of an individual patient should be obtained through consultation with a physician who has examined that patient or is familiar with that patient's medical history.

All NINDS-prepared information is in the public domain and may be freely copied. Credit to the NINDS or the NIH is appreciated.

Last updated October 6, 2011