Krabbe disease

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Definition Symptoms Causes Risk factors

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Definition

Krabbe disease is a rare, inherited, often fatal disorder affecting the central nervous system. The disease can affect muscle tone and movement, and cause vision and hearing loss, among other effects.

In most cases, Krabbe disease develops in babies before six months of age, although it can occur in older children and in adults.

Krabbe disease may be best known in the United States for the media attention it received when former professional football quarterback Jim Kelly raised awareness and research funds for the disorder, which had been diagnosed in his son, Hunter.

Treatment for Krabbe disease mainly involves approaches designed to ease symptoms.

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Symptoms