Adrenoleukodystrophy

Adrenoleukodystrophy

Adrenoleukodystrophy is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder. People with ALD have high levels of saturated, very long chain fatty acids that build up in the brain. This is due to the individual’s inability to produce the enzyme that breaks down these fatty acids. The fatty acids dissolve the myelin surrounding the nerve cells. No one knows exactly why these fatty acids destroy myelin, and this is why the cure took so long to find. This loss of myelin is the primary characteristic of ALD. The most common symptoms are usually behavioral changes such as withdrawal or aggression, bad memory, and poor school performance. Other symptoms include blindness, learning disabilities, seizures, poor speech, difficulty swallowing, deafness, odd gait and coordination, fatigue, vomiting, and dementia.

Treatments for ALD include physical therapy, psychological support, and special education. A mixture of oleic acid and euric acid, called "Lorenzo's