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Alexander disease

What are the symptoms?

The onset of Alexander disease may occur at any time during infancy or adulthood. For many individuals onset is between birth and two years, with the average being six months. This infantile form of the disease affects boys and girls and leads to delayed development and dementia. The condition is characterised by an enlarged brain and head (megalencephaly), progressive spasticity (stiffness of the arms and/or legs), cerebellar ataxia and dementia. Infants fail to thrive, show delayed mental and physical development, and have seizures. Hydrocephalus may occur. Sadly, the outlook is generally poor and children rarely survive past the age of five to six years.

View Background Background  |  What are the causes? View What are the causes?

Medical text written November 2000 by the Alzheimer's Society. Approved November 2000 by Professor T M Cox. Last updated December 2002 by Professor T M Cox, Professor of Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.

 

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