Rare form of Alzheimer’s strickens six year old child.
February 1, 2008 by Liz Lewis
Filed under Diseases & Conditions
We think of Alzheimer’s Disease as a disease that strikes older people. But I just came across a very heartbreaking article from England brings home the fact that anyone can get Alzheimer’s Disease.
Leah Garfitt has Niemann-Pick Type C disease (NPC), a rare form of children’s Alzheimer’s disease. Diagnosed when she was one years old, Leah and her family are praying for a cure before Leah develops full scale dementia.
Niemann-Pick Type C is not a very common disease with only about 500 known cases worldwide so it’s not surprising that most of us have not heard. A genetic disease, it causes large amounts of fatty substances to build up in the liver, spleen, bone marrow and brain causing symptoms similar to Alzheimer’s. There is no known cure and those suffering from it die before they reach 20.
You can learn more about this disease at the National Niemann-Pick Foundation and at the Niemann-Pick Disease Group (UK).
Wow. I didn’t realize that it could strike a child. That’s horrible. I hope there IS a cure soon!
I wonder if the fact that it’s so rare is causing a delay in cure/treatment research. I hope not. I feel for this little girl and her family.
When we realize Alzheimer’s or similar dementia type diseases can strike all ages, including children, it makes us more aware of the devastation that can occur…for victims and families.
Thanks, Angelique and Alicia, for stopping by and sharing your thoughts at Alzheimer’s Notes.
I never realized that there was such a thing as Niemann-Pick type C until I came across this article. It seems so very, very sad and unfair to be stricken with a disease from the moment of birth (I guess even from the moment of conception as scientist have determined this is a genetic disease)…
scientists are working on trying to find a cure but no luck so far. Meanwhile, I guess the only good thing is that it is so very rare…