Tay Sachs Disease

Tay Sachs disease is a fatal genetic disorder discovered by ophthalmologist Warren Tay in 1881. It mainly infects infants of French, Canadian, Cajun, Eastern European and Ashkenazim Jewish descent. Yet, a child can only be infected if both of the parents are carriers of the disease. Tay Sachs is the effect of not enough activity of an enzyme called beta-hexosaminidase A. This enzyme controls the amount of a fatty tissue in the brain called ganglioside. Without the enzyme the ganglioside builds up in tissues and nerve cells in the brain that causes, firstly cherry-red spots in the eye. Then, deterioration of mental and physical abilities begins along with paralysis setting in. Other symptoms are blindness, deaf, losing the ability to swallow, dementia, seizures, and increased startle reflex to noise. There is absolutely no treatment for this disease, only anticonvulsants to control the seizures. Most of the money donated for Tay Sachs disease is gone to comforting the children who have it, because infected infants live to about the age of five. This disease is deadly and has no pattern. yes it is rare but it is still fatal and we need to vigorously search for a treatment otherwise many more infants well die.