Wilson's Disease
Jevon Jorge
What is Wilson Disease?
Wilson Disease is a disorder in which the body cannot remove excess copper, which leads to copper building up in one's liver, and the brain.
Symptoms
People that suffer from this disease may encounter problems such as muscle stiffness, problems with speech, swallowing, or physical coordination, weakness, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss. Other mental health related symptoms include a change in personality, depression, anxiety, and even psychosis, where a person loses contact with reality.
How is this disease diagnosed?
This disease is inherited genetically and is diagnosed by physical examinations, blood tests, urine tests, or liver biopsy tests. This disease is said to affect 1 of every 30,000 people worldwide.
Living With Wilson's Disease
The Brain
The buildup of copper in the body can have a major effect on the basal ganglia, which is the part of the brain that coordinates movements. The excess buildup of copper can also cause seizures, migraine headaches, and insomnia.
Fighting The Disease
There are organizations such as the Wilson's Disease Association (WDA), that fight the disease and provide resources for consultation, diagnosis, and treatment. There is no cure for Wilson's disease, but there are different methods of treatment that include therapy using zinc to counteract the copper in the body, and other medicines.
Wilson's Disease