Understanding Batten Disease & the Symptoms of Batten Disease

Understanding Batten Disease & the Symptoms of Batten Disease
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In 1903, a British pediatrician discovered Batten’s disease. It has been noted as being the most common of NCLs (Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinoses). This particular disease affects children and at present there is no known cure so as you can imagine scientists and researchers are pressing onward to find out more.

What Are The Symptoms of Batten’s Disease?

Batten’s is a disease that usually affects children, with symptoms commonly emerging around four years of age. Seizures usually occur along with vision impairment. Learning deficiencies, stuttering excessive clumsiness or mood swings and behavioral issues are warning signs for Batten’s disease.

With time, all of the above symptoms get progressively worse until the child becomes severely mentally damaged, blind and bed ridden until death.

What Are the Causes of Batten’s Disease?

Fats and proteins in the body make up what are called lipopigments. When they build up in the tissues of the human body NCL’s like Batten’s disease occur. These lipopigments can build up in the cells which can literally be anywhere in the body for instance: the brain, muscles, etc. When this happens it kills the neurons which are found in the nervous system and the brain.

Research Being Conducted on Batten’s Disease

The National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) is a branch of the federal government that conducts research on Batten’s disease. They are responsible for the medical breakthroughs in this area. The financial backing for the studies comes from “The Batten Disease Support and Research Association” and, of course, the “Children’s Brain Diseases Foundation”.

Conclusion

As you can imagine, Batten’s disease is a silent killer that creeps into a family’s life, ultimately destroying it. The children go through pain and regression while confused as to why it is happening and how they can get better. For parent’s it is a shared nightmare, one of torture and torment. Watching helplessly as your child goes through a prolonged death can seem frightening and overwhelming. However, there is hope amidst this darkness that a cure or some measure of prevention might be discovered before more lives are lost to this unforgiving and merciless sentence of death.

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