Canavan disease

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Search results last updated: 5/6/2009

canavan disease - Definition: (Source: MedicineNet)

The signs of Canavan disease usually appear when the children are between 3 and 6 months of age. They include developmental delay (significant motor slowness), enlargement of the head (macrocephaly), loss of muscle tone (hypotonia), poor head control, and severe feeding problems. As the disease progresses, convulsions (seizures), shrinkage of the nerve to the eye (optic atrophy) and often blondness, heartburn (gastrointestinal reflux) and deterioration of swallowing develop. ...
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About canavan disease (Source: Medem)

Canavan disease, one of the most common cerebral degenerative diseases of infancy, is a gene-linked, neurological birth disorder in which the white matter of the brain degenerates into spongy tissue riddled with microscopic fluid-filled spaces. Canavan disease is one of a group of genetic disorders known as the leukodystrophies. These diseases cause imperfect growth or development of the myelin sheath, the fatty covering that acts as an insulator around nerve fibers in the brain. Myelin, which lends its color to the "white matter" of the brain, is a complex substance made up of at least 10 different chemicals. Each of the leukodystrophies affects one (and only one) of these substances. ...
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Canavan disease

Frequently Asked Questions for canavan disease (Source: MedicineNet)

What is Canavan disease? What causes Canavan disease? What are the symptoms of Canavan disease? Is there any treatment for Canavan disease? What is the prognosis for Canavan disease? What research is being done on Canavan disease? For more information

Causes of canavan disease (Source: MedLinePlus)

Canavan disease is inherited as an autosomal recessive trait. It is more common among Ashkenazi Jews than in the general population. The lack of the enzyme , aspartoacylase, leads to a buildup of material called N-acetylaspartic acid in the brain. This causes the white matter of the brain to break down (deteriorate). ... [ read more.. ]

Symptoms of canavan disease (Source: MedLinePlus)

Symptoms usually begin in the first year of life. Parents tend to notice when a child is not reaching certain developmental milestones, including head control. Symptoms include: Abnormal posture with flexed arms and straight legs; Backflow of food material into the nose (nasal regurgitation); Blindness; Feeding problems; Increasing head size ( macrocephaly ); Lack of head control when baby is pulled from lying to sitting position (head lag); Poor muscle tone , especially of the neck muscles; Reflux with vomiting; Seizures ; Severe mental retardation; Swallowing difficulties . ... [ read more.. ]

canavan disease - Conventional Treatments (Source: MedLinePlus)

Treatment aims to ease the symptoms of the disease. There is no specific treatment. ... [ read more.. ]

Further Reading on canavan disease

Disease, Canavan ( MedicineNet )

	canavan disease: Health Search Results from the Invisible Web

canavan disease: Health Search Results from the Invisible Web