An Introduction to the Signs and Symptoms of Tay-Sachs
Types of
Tay-Sachs disease vary, based on when the disease develops and the symptoms that are present. The most common form of
Tay-Sachs begins in infancy. A much more rare form of Tay-Sachs, late-onset Tay-Sachs disease, affects adults. The symptoms will also vary for each type.
Infants with Tay-Sachs disease typically appear normal for the first three to six months. Then symptoms of Tay-Sachs begin to occur. Common symptoms in infants include:
- Slowing down of development
- Weakening of muscles
- Loss of motor skills such as turning over, sitting, and crawling.
As the disease progresses, other symptoms may also occur, including:
- Seizures
- Increased startle reflex to noise
- Vision loss
- Hearing loss
- Inability to swallow
- Mental retardation
- Paralysis
- Dementia.
An eye abnormality called a cherry-red spot, which can be identified with an eye examination, is one of the characteristic symptoms of Tay-Sachs disease. Children with this severe form of the condition usually only live into early childhood.
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