Adrenleukodystrophy

Adrenoleukodystrophy

Description: Adrenoleukodystrophy(ALD)- a disease that effects the myelin sheath on the nerve fibers on the brain. If someone has this disease the myelin sheath of the brains' nerve fibers is lost which leads to neurological(nerve) disabilities and death. People with ALD have very high levels of saturated long fatty chain acids in their brain and their adrenal cortex(the outer part of the adrenal gland) because the acids aren't broken down by an enzyme in the normal way.

Adrenoleukodystrophy (ALD) is a rare, inherited metabolic disorder. In this disease, the fatty covering(myelin sheath) on nerve fibers in the brain is lost and the adrenal gland degenerates, leading to progressive neurological disability and death. Males usally inherit this disorder. By: Julia

Chromosome location: ALD is located in the X chromosome.

The location for ALD is on the X chromosome. By: Julia

Treatment: The treatment for ALD is steriods such as cortisol.

Adrenal dysfunction is treated with steroids (such as cortisol). A specific treatment for X-linked adrenoleukodystrophy is not available, but eating a diet low in very-long-chain fatty acids and taking special oils can lower the blood levels of very-long-chain fatty acids. By: julia

Life Expectancy: A child born with ALD is most likely to live about 10 years with this condition until death occurs.

Children with this disorder usally have behaverial problems by the time they reach 10 and then not long after that they die.

Support Organizations: A support organization is the ALD Foundation.





Jack