Lexic.us

Definition of Tay-Sachs disease

1. Noun. A hereditary disorder of lipid metabolism occurring most frequently in individuals of Jewish descent in eastern Europe; accumulation of lipids in nervous tissue results in death in early childhood.

Medical Definition of Tay-Sachs disease

1. A genetic disorder found in east European Jewish families which can result in early death bu affecting the brain and nerves by causing abnormal lipid metabolism. It is a lysosomal disease in which there is a deficiency of hexosaminidase A, an enzyme that degrades ganglioside GM2. Symptoms appear at age 3-6 months and include blindness, deafness, seizures, paralysis, dementia, decreased muscle tone and growth retardation. There is no known treatment and most children usually die between 2 and 5 years of age. Inheritance: autosomal recessive. (06 Oct 1997)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Tay-Sachs Disease

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