Tay-Sachs disease is also known as: B Variant GM2 gangliosidosis, GM2 gangliosidosis type 1, Hex A deficiency, Hexosaminidase A deficiency, Hexosaminidase alpha – subunit deficiency (Variant B), sphingolipidosis, and TSD. The main cause of Tay-Sachs is a defective Hex-A gene, and an absence of a significant enzyme known as hexosaminidase. A gene on the fifteenth chromosome codes for the generation of Hex-A, and does not function properly in Tay-Sachs patients. Each person has is intended to have two Hex-A genes. Based on inheritance and genetic patterns, even if one gene is defective, the child will still be healthy. Following the inheritance pattern, if two healthy, carrier parents have a child, then that child will inherit a defective gene …show more content…
Tay-Sachs follows an autosomal recessive pattern – both copies of the gene possess mutations. Warren Tay first described it in 1881. Bernard Sachs was the first to describe cellular changes and the genetics of it, in 1887. Tay described a patient with a cherry-red spot on their retina. Sachs established the connection the familial connections of the disorder, noting that most babies who had Tay-Sachs were of Eastern European, Jewish descent. If symptoms and physical characteristics suggest that a child may be suffering from Tay-Sachs disease, blood tests are used to determine whether or not the child’s body is producing the necessary Hex-A enzyme. DNA is extracted from the sample in an attempt to detect mutations of the Hex-A. There is no known cure for Tay-Sachs disease. For treatment and to ease the pain of/reduce some of the side effects, doctors may prescribe seizure medications. It is highly recommended that Tay-Sachs patients begin some form of Respiratory therapy. This type of therapy is necessary because children who have Tay-Sachs have a high chance of developing lung
This syndrome is tested at birth with fluorescent in situ hybridization or FISH. With blood samples, they test the blood for the deletion of chromosome 7. FISH checks if many as of 22-26 genes are deleted. Because there is no cure for this syndrome, you will most likely have physical therapy and early education to help early development symptoms like speech delays and heart problems. This syndrome is not caused by environmental factors, it is completely genetic and NOT the parents fault.
Cherry red spot” in the eyes Infant with Tay Sachs Disease If two parents are carriers for
Main Point C: The similarities and differences between Tay-Sachs and Fragile X as wells as the similarities and differences between Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Tay Sachs can only be inherited, which means it is passed from parents to child only. The process begins in the fetus, very early in pregnancy. However, the disease does not become physically apparent until the child is several months old. Tay Sachs is caused by the absence of a vital enzyme, called the Hex A gene, which is in chromosome 15. This gene plays an important role in the nervous system. It breaks down the fatty substance called
The cell is the basic unit of life in eukaryotic organisms. The inside of the cell is comprised of multiple subunits called organelle that all function together to maintain homeostasis and function. Each individual organelle is assigned a specific task and purpose for the cell. These tasks and purposes can range from structural support all the way to the disposal of malfunctioning organelle.1 Similarity to a machine, if one part stops functioning to full potential, serious if not fatal consequences can be faced. A shining example of the effects of a malfunctioning organelle occurs in Tay-Sachs disease. Tay- Sachs disease is a lysosomal disorder that is caused by a faulty lysosome.1 Recent studies and research have been investigating the causes and pathways Tay-Sachs disease with great success, which is amazing news for the scientific community.
In order to review their inherited genetic risks and help them understand and provide counseling according to their specific needs the genetic counselor should know the Trosacks ' have already established that their unborn child has Tay Sachs disease and based on those needs they should be provided with appropriate guidance and counseling as they progress through their pregnancy. The discussion should include what causes genetic disorders, and what that means to the Trosack couple specifically, including dominant, recessive and x-linked disorders. However, recessive disorders should be fully discussed in this case. Another topic to include in the discussion are what genes and chromosomes are, and the relation to Tay Sachs disease.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig’s disease, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. ALS is also named Lou Gehrig’s disease because he was the first person to bring ALS to a national attention in the 1930’s. Lou Gehrig’s amazing professional baseball career was ended short by this horrific disease. There are multiple treatments for ALS, but no cure for this fatal disease. In 2014, ALS was brought to major attention by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge. Although Lou has the disease named after him, there are several other notable individuals who have been diagnosed with ALS. These individuals include Stephen Hawking, Jim Hunter, Steve Gleason, George Yardley
There are no treatments or cures for Tay-Sachs disease; however, through palliative care, treatment is used to keep the child comfortable. Palliative care often includes prescription medication to relieve symptoms, the use of feeding tubes, physical therapy, and respiratory care to avoid issues with the lungs and airways.
ALS was also called Lou Gehrig disease. The reason why it was called the Lou Gehrig diseases is because he was a famous MLB baseball player that was diagnosed with ALS and later on died from it. Lou Gehrig was born in New York City, on June 19, 1903. Lou devoted his whole life in Baseball and his family. Later on Lou was having a hard time tying his shoes and had a feeling that this can be his end of his career. In 1939, The doctor had a bad news for him which was that he was diagnosed with ALS.
It has come to my attention that you believe Tay-Sachs disease is less devastating than ALD. To make an assumption does not do you justice and I am here to inform you on each of these demyelinating diseases so you can understand why in fact Tay-Sachs disease is in fact more devastating than ALD
Without this enzyme working properly, there will be a toxic buildup of ganglioside in the brain causing serious and life-threatening complications. (“Student Resources in Context Tay-Sachs “World of Health.Gale,2007.Student Resources in context.Web.22 May 2014”).Which is why the symptoms are so serious and normally result in the death of the person that has this disease. The person doesn't necessarily die from the actual disease sometimes, it can actually be from complications caused by this disease. 1 in 3600 Jewish infants are born with Tay Sachs disease. (“Student Resources in Context Tay-Sachs “World of Health.Gale,2007.Student Resources in context.Web.22 May 2014”). This disease, although it may not seem like it, is a autosomally recessive disease that has to be inherited through parents that either have the disease or are both carriers. Parents can be carriers and not even know it because this disease is recessive so both recessive alleles have to be present in order for the disease to show itself. Interestingly, 1 in 27 eastern European Jews are carriers for this disease. (“Student Resources in Context Tay-Sachs “World of Health.Gale,2007.Student Resources in context.Web.22 May 2014”). Two of the three forms listed above are fatal and result in death not very late after diagnosis. Death normally occurs at a young age as the
Tay Sachs Disease is an inherited disease that results in slow destruction of the central nervous system and sensory systems, which is caused by a mutation resulting in a deficiency of a lysosomal enzyme. The missing enzyme, hexosaminidase A, functions in breaking down the fatty material ganglioside GM2, a chemical found in nerve tissue. Without this enzyme, lipids accumulate in the brain cells and destroy them, resulting in damaged nerve cells, neurological problems, and eventually leading to death several years after birth. The disease was first discovered by Waren Tay, a British ophthalmologist in 1881. Tay-Sachs disease is very rare in the general population and is relatively common among certain ethnic groups such as Eastern Europeans
In 1939, the famous baseball player for the New York Yankees, Lou Gehrig was diagnosed with the incurable neurodegenerative disease called Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. This time period is when ALS came to the forefront of the mind of sports fans. On June 2, 1941 , Lou Gehrig lost his heroic and inspiring fight against the paralyzing disease, ALS. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is now also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease in the United States, mainly because of Lou Gehrig’s impact on American culture during his time. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis is very fatal to its victims. There are many aspects of this disease that must be spoken about on occasion, but the biggest point to be made is that Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis can attack
Some of the general symptoms of the disease can be characterized by hind limb spasticity, weight loss, tremors, abnormal posture with lordosis, and possibility of visual impairment. Muscle weakness, clasping of the limbs, and myoclonic twitches of the head that can be onset late in the disease. Research of the GM2 ganglioside has revealed that storage of the fatty substance varies a large
The members will be a physician, a geneticist, an ethicist, a lawyer and a nurse. The physician, who is a pediatrician, makes the diagnosis of Tay Sachs. The geneticist, another specialist, provides more specific and applicable information on Tay-Sachs, such as causes and risks, prevention, diagnosis and treatment. These two specialists formulate a plan of care, which a nurse will implement. The ethicist informs them about accepted moral values and the proper human conduct, behavior and decisions in dealing with Tay-Sachs. The lawyer or legal practitioner informs the involved parties about the current laws and court decisions concerning or affecting the management of genetic disorders, such as Tay-Sachs. And the nurse carries out the detailed instructions of the geneticist and pediatrician as well as incorporates the guidelines inputted by the lawyer.