Alexander Disease
By Kristen Pruett
What is Alexander Disease?
Definitions You Need to Know:
Leukodystrophy: refers to progressive degeneration of the white matter of the brain due to imperfect growth or development of the myelin sheath.
Alexander disease: a rare disorder of the nervous system. It is one of a group of disorders, called leukodystrophies, that involve the destruction of myelin.
Myelin Sheath: the fatty covering that insulates nerve fibers and promotes the rapid transmission of nerve impulses.
Jack
Olivia
Dylan
Went to Heaven: 4/30/04
Life with Alexander Disease
- usually have mental and physical development delays
- do not have developmental milestones
- have an abnormal increase in head size
- seizures
Juvenile Stage
- may have excessive vomiting
- difficulty swallowing and speaking
- poor coordination
- loss of motor control
Adult Stage
- mimics the symptoms of Parkinson's disease or multiple sclerosis
Origins and Developments of Alexander Disease
How does Alexander Disease affect the brain?
Alexander Disease and the Brain
Temporal Lobe - This lobe is responsible for language. Many individuals with Alexander disease do not have developmental milestones, like speach.
Cerebellum - This lobe is responsible for coordination. The cerebellum of individuals with Alexander disease is affected because they typically have poor coordination
Brain stem - The brain stem's function is to control the autonomic functions in the body. Because individuals with Alexander disease sometimes have trouble with speaking and swallowing it means that the brain stem is affected by this disease.
Diagnosis and Prognosis
For many years the presence of Rosenthal fibers was required to be able to diagnose Alexander disease. However this can be ambiguous because it can be found in other disorders. More recently MRI criteria have been accurate and successful in diagnosing Alexander disease. Definitive diagnosis can be obtained through blood testing or swabbing of the cheek to test DNA.
Prognosis
Prognosis for people with Alexander disease is usually poor. Children with the infantile form of the disease do not usually live past 6 and children with the juvenile and adult forms typically have a slower, more lengthy course.
Georgina
Went to Heaven: 3/27/11
Daniel
Trinity
Treatments
Research and Organizations
Research
As mentioned previously, most recent research has been discovered that individuals with Alexander disease have a mutation in the gene that makes GFAP. Scientists have not proven how the mutation causes the disease and are trying to understand this. Studies are also being done to find a possible treatment for the disease.
- ulf.org
- http://www.ninds.nih.gov
- NORD (National Organization for Rare Disorders) https://rarediseases.org
- https://www.facebook.com/AlexanderDiseaseAwareness
Statistics
About 500 cases have been reported since the disorder was first described in 1949.
Video
Leukodystrophy Awareness Month
Tuesday, Sep 1, 2015, 12:00 AM
Worldwide
Works Cited
"Alexander Disease." NORD National Organization for Rare Disorders Alexander Disease Comments. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2015. <http://rarediseases.org/rare-diseases/alexander-disease/>.
"Alexander Disease." United Leukodystrophy Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2015. <http://ulf.org/alexander-disease>.
"NINDS Alexander Disease Information Page." United Leukodystrophy Foundation. N.p., n.d. Web. 02 June 2015. <http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/alexander_disease/alexander_disease.htm>.