What is Alexander's disease?

Alexander diseases are a nervous system disorder that can disrupt the function of the nervous system. This disease is part of a group of disorders called leukodystrophy that destroys myelin, which are fibers that cover and isolate neutrons. Myelin also helps in rapid transmission of electrical pulses - what your brain uses to tell the rest of the body to move and function. Without myelin, the impulses can stop or disrupt.

There are several forms of Alexander's disease. The infantile form is the most common and manifests before one reaches for two years. Symptoms of infantile form include enlarged head and brain, also called megalencephalies and seizures. It may also result in replasticity or stiffness in the arms, patient's feet or both. Alexander diseases in an infantile condition can also cause intellectual disability and delay in mental development. Symptoms of TMZI juvenile and adult forms include swallowing problems, seizures and poor coordination, also called ataxia. If AlexaNder's illness becomes a child during the first month of their lives, it is a neonatal form. Symptoms of neonatal forms include intellectual involvement, seizures and hydrocephalus, which is the accumulation of fluid in the brain. Neonatal form is the most precious form of Alexander's disease.

Alexander diseases are due to the mutation of gene gli fibrillary acid protein (GFAP). GFAP is part of the middle family of proteins that form networks and supports and strengthens cells. Usually it will inherit parents. A person can develop a gene mutation without any family history.

This disease is present as an autosomal dominant formula, which means that it has only a mutation of one copy of the GFAP gene to manifest. Each person has two copies of each gene on his chromosomes and the gene can say something a little different. When information about genes is together, the property of a person - as a color of the eyes is determined.With an autosomal dominant pattern, the information in question must only be on the gene in order to inherit this particular feature. This means that only one of the two copies of GFAP can be mutated for a person to develop the disease.

There is no medicine for Alexanders' disease, nor is there an agreed method for the treatment of the disease. Doctors are only able to treat the patient's symptoms. This means that although the doctor can prescribe therapy and drugs to treat seizures and spasticity, the disease will remain. Research is underway to learn how to heal and treat this disease and other leukodystrophy like it.